■^,'1 







AN APPEAL 



'^^' 



ro THE 



C()N(;hkss of the unfted states 



BY AN 



AMERICAN CITIZEN 



FOR 



/^- // 'J 

J'Kl TH AND JUSTICE. 




WASHINGTON : 

riintril ;U tlic Office of TiiK Ohkat Repi bi.ic, 499 lltli Street. 

18G8. 






AN APPEAL 



TO 'THE 



CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 



BV AN- 



CA^ OITIZEF 



FOR 



^iCt^^-^-zr^-^r ^^. 



''VT^ H "Ti'Sl 



IVTR AND JUSTICE. 







WASHIXGTOX 
Printed at th. OiSce of The Great llEwnLu, 49J Eleventh Street, 



1808. 






Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
in 2010 witii funding from 
Tine Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/appealtocongressOOwood 



Wahui.vgto.v, Ajn-il oO, 18G8. 
The two documents on this page will explain why it is that I make this appeal to the 
Congress of the nation. By the course of political events an issue is attempted to be 
made, at this late day, regarding the purity of my conduct and claim. Having been an 
inhabitant of the State of Georgia during the rebellion ; and since the war a public officer, 
by the nomination of the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate ; I do 
feel anxious to remove all doubts on the subject of my entire heartfelt loyalty at all times 
to the Government of the United States, and to establish my right to the continued confi- 
dence ®f those kind friends who have encouraged and supported me in the prosecution of 
my purpose. 

I respectfully submit the proofs herein contained and ask a careful consideration and 
a righteous judgment of mv claim. 

WYLLY WOODBRIDGE, 
Ot' Savaimah, 6'a. 



AT THE BEGINNINti. 

nEADQ'R.s Military Div'x Mississii-i'i, 
In the Field, Januari/ 15, ISfi-J, 
S.iVAXX.vn, (jEougia. 

llox. Si.MEOX Draper, 

Special Agent Treaswi/ Department : 
Dear Sin: — I take pleasure in making 
known to you AVylly Woodbridge, Esq.. 
the same who has been recommended us 
Collector of this port. He is unirersaliy 
admitted to have been always a steady, thor- 
ough Union man. I would be glad if you 
would recognize him in that capacity, and 
deal with him according. I am, sir, 

\\M. T. SHERMAN, 
Major General Commandimj. 



THE 



END AS THE MATTER 
STANDS. 



NOW 



[From the ^^avauiiah Daily Advertiser, Jan. 20, ISGS.] 

Although our politics, during and since 
the war, were and are much at variance with 
those of the subscriber of the following com- 
munication, we take great pleasure in pub- 
lishing it at his request. AVhatever may be 
the honest differences existing between citi- 
zens on political subjects, all must unite in 
scorn and detestation of the miserable 
wretch who, shrouded in the mantle of in- 
visibility, launches his shafts at the uncon- 
scious object of his enmity. The writer of 
an anonymous letter, written for purposes of 
malice, would, but for the cowardice natural 
to such a character, play the part of the as- 
-:assin: 

"TO TFIE PUBLIC. 

"The following is a copy of a letter writ- 
ten and directed to the Honorable Secretary 
of War at Washington : 



'Sava.\.\au, April 11, IStiT. 
'Sir :—Uefore you use your exertions to secure Mr. 
Wylly Wooclbndge's claim for cotton, taken at Savan- 
nah upon its occupancy by the Federal army, had you 
better not inquire whether he was not .is much a rebel 
as others, whose claims are hopeless; and whether be 
did not make a written application to Oen. A. R. Law- 
ton (now a resident of this city) for a position on his 
staff y It will not cost you much trouble, and will fur- 
ther the ends of J USTICE.'' 

"This letter was not written by a fool. It 
is mean, insinuating, and poisonous, dishon- 
orable and cowardly, and bears the impre.*s 
of villainy. It has no right to the name of 
' Justice.' It is unjust in the extreme. 

"As my only witness in the case, I must 
summon Gen. Lawton, and ask of him the 
proof or denial of the allegations contained 
in the letter. 

" I also ask him to publish to the world 
all my correspondence ever held with him, 
and all the circumstances connected there- 
with. I ask him to state to the public in 
what light I was viewed by him and all my 
fellow-citizens. AVhat was my position, po- 
litically, before and during the secession 
agitation in Savannah ? Was I considered 
a submissionist or not? What were my 
feelings, words, and actioiis, during the long 
continuance of the war? What was mv 
treatment by friends and foes? W^as I re- 
bellious to the United States Government 
or the Confederate? Did he know of the 
persecutions in my house by the vigilance 
committee, and the various arrests of my 
person for military duty ? I ask him to state 
all that he does know concerning me con- 
nected with the rebellion, so that ' justice' 
may be clothed again in her own proper 
robes. 

" WYLLY WOODBRIDGE. 

" Washington Citi/, O. G., January 15, 
1868. •' 



THE REIGN OF TERROR. 



[I'rom Ihe fav.innah Daily News, Kot. "JO, 1S6('. j 

COMMUNICATED. 

tSo'CSsion the only True Mode of li€si.'<tance. 

Mr. Editor : It has been said, and that 
in high places, that even under the ex- 
treme aggravation to which (icorgia has 
been aroused, and which it would seem 
ought to make us all of one mind, as one 
rnan, there are to be two jiarties in the com- 
ing election for delegates to the State Con- 
vention, 1 am unwilling to think so, I have 
yet to believe that Georgia contains within 
her borders an}' respectable number of men 
who would, in her present exigency, think 
for one moment of quietlj- submitting to the 
rule of a man hostile to the very foundation 
of our social system. Understand me, 1 
refer to abject subinissionists, Unionists at 
any hazard, and to the end of the chapter. 
If there are any such, they are Georgia's 
foster children, and not born of her. They 
are her Catalines, her Arnolds, and the 
sooner the veil is torn from the dark designs 
of their unnatural bosoms, the better will it 
he for the honor of our State. 

liut 1 cannot Ijelievc that a corporal's 
guard of men so low, so servile, so degrad- 
ed, so lost to shame, and insensible^o wrong 
and insult, could be drummed up from Dade 
to Ware, if there be any, they had better 
keep out of the track of the whiilwind of 
dctiant indignation that is now sweeping the 
length and l)readt]i of this State. Sucli 
cringing submission will be held to be either 
cowardice or knavery, and the hour of retri- 
bution will soou overtake them, lie who is 
not in our favor of resistance in some shape, 
can be but little short of an ally of our 
enemies. 

But surely there can be no such men in 
Georgia, who can l)oast the name of a Geor- 
gian, for in every meeting in every county 
the cry of lesistauce inis been made- 

Refusing to submit to Lincoln's rule is 
'' resistance to Ijincoln." Any step .short 
of secession, short of disavowing his right, 
cr willingness for him to rule over us, is not 
resistance to him, hni tulDnissiottto him, and 
resistance to some one else* 

S.WANNAH. 



IN'J'EIIROGATORIES. 

1st. Did you not say some months ago that 
the Government at ^Vashington ought to put 
down the movement of Southern States at 
once, or something to that eflcct? 

2d. Did you not say that Abrahatu Lincoln 
was lawfully elected by the people, and that 
because some of the office-seekers were dis- 
appointed, theyhad advocated secession, and 
also that you had no doubt but that Lincoln 
would make a good President? 

3d. After Georgia had seceded, did you 
n^ot endeavor to ship rice to i5oston, or some 
other northern port? 

4th. Were you not opposed to the secession 
of Georgia from the United States? 

uth. Did you not positively forbid j'our 
house to be illuminated in honor of South 
Carolina? 

tJth. Did you not try to get Wm. D. Olivcra 
to run the blockade and take a cargo of rice 
North? 

7th. Do you think that the South had any 
right to secede from the United States? 

8th- Did you not say that the South had 
acted too hasty in seceding when she did, and 
that tlie peo]tle ought to wait until Lincoln 
committed an overt act ? 

9th. Arc you not opposed to slave labor, 
and have you not said that it ought to be 
abolished ? 

loth. Did you not own an interest in an 
iron mill North ; and if so, how much, and at 
what place? 

lltli. Did you r.ot rtjfuse to join a mounted 
guard, organizing in this city, for the protec- 
tion ol' Savannan, and assign as your reason 
that ycni were able tt) protect your own home, 
and that you did not know by whom our 
homes and firesides were to be invaded? 

12{]\. Did you not in conversation with 
two gentlemen on Monday or Tuesday last, 
say that the North was honorable, and acted 
honorably, and that Kentucky was always 
an honorable State, and that she was still 
honorable, if slie had gone with tie North? 

loth. Do you own any slaves? 

14th. Have you not frequently and repeat- 
edly abused the Sottth and taken up for the 
North ? 



15th. Would you be willing to fight for the 
Confederate States? 

16th. Would you take the oath of allegi- 
ance to the Confederate States ? 

17th. Did you not ask Mr. James Wray if he 
took such trash as Confederate bonds in pay- 
ment or part payment for work done for the 
Confederate Government, and did you not 
say that you would not take them, and that 
you considered it a hazardous investment. 

18th* Did you not say that you would take 
oftice under the Lincoln Government. 



Savansah, September 00, IStU. 

Hon. Chaim.es C. JoyES, 

Mayor of Savannah : 

Dear Sill : Herewith I beg leave to .'sub- 
mit to you a paper containing a series of in- 
terrogatories that were served on me at my 
residence, the night of the 2tjth in.«t., by.T. 
D. Fish, il. F. WiUink, Jr., John Willink, 
W. B. Adams, Jr., and B. W. Hardee? 
These persons appeared in a body, as a com- 
tuittee, and accompanied the delivery of the 
paper with a demand that the questions 
therein propounded Ije answered, and to 
them directly. 

I repudiate the authority of these self-con- 
stituted inquisitors, and scorn to respond to 
their insulting demands. 

To you, sir, as the chief magistrate of my 
city, I am willing to state that whatever may 
be my individual opinions with regard to 
the policy that has lieen pursued by the 
vSouthern States, including the State of 
Georgia, I feel bound to respect their action. 

In the present fearful is.sue in Avhich wo 
are engaged, I hold with all true citizens of 
Georgia, a common involvment of every- 
thing which is precious to me in life, and my 
endeavor shall be to be loyal to my native 
State, and true to the institutions of the 
South. 

I a)n. sir, respectfully, yours, ' 

wvLLY vroobBiMr)(;E. 



[Vrom the Dally Nevro.j 

NOTICE TO SUIPPER3 OF COTION AND OTIIKR 

SOUTHERN PRODUCTS. 

The S.ifc t.v Guard of Savannah doem the siiipi)ing of 
rotton and other Southern products, by any vesbel now 
in onr port, or which may hereafter arrive, as directly 
or indinetiy giving aid and comfort to the enemy. 

We, therefore, solicit the aid of all loyal citizens of 
thj« commnnity to prevent the shipment of Southern 
products to the ports of any government not recogniz- 
ing our independence and countenancing the iuell'ect- 
uai blockade of our ports. liy order of the Society. 

Attest: 

B. W. HARDKE, 
.'iicretary and, Trcamrcr. 

S<»ptemt9i- CO, 1861. 



OffKcrs Safety Guard. 
JvHS I>. Fish, President, 
M". G. Bulloch, 1st Vice-President 
Q. B. L.VMAR, 2.1 Vice-President, 
11. y. WiLLiXK, Jr., Captain Patrol. 
.Tames L. IImpt. 1st Liout. Patrol. 
M'lLLlAy Dixos. -Jd Lieut. Patrol. 



The following letter was read to Dr. ]Jul- 
lock, but for good and sufficient reasons re- 
tained in the possession of the author : 

S.iVAXXAH, October?.. ISr.l. 
Dr. Wn.LT.vM G. Bullock, 

First ]'ice- President Safety Guard: 

Sir: On Thursday night last, during a se- 
vere storm, Dr. Fish, H. F. Willink, -Ir., W. 
B. Adams, John Williuk, and B. W. Har- 
dee, called at my residence, after I had re- 
tired to my chamber, and were admitted to 
my parlor by the servant ; they represented 
themselves as a committee appointed to pro- 
po.«e written questions for me to answer. 
During the visit, ill-timed and intrusive, I 
refused to open the paper presented, and 
throwing it on the table told them they could 
leave it. Our interview, interrupted'by the 
accidental appearance of my son, then ab- 
rui)tly closed, and the party left my house. 
What other intentions they had in view 1 have 
no means of judging ; but the array of num- 
bers, tlie hour, and the weather, all looked 
to me ominous of evil. 

They protected their visit under the plea 
of duty as a committee; but by what author- 
ity, or from whom or what society they did 
not state, and I had to draw my own conclu- 
sions. Finding them in my house, my ser- 
vant having received them as he is in.^tructed 
to receive all gentlemen, I treated them as 
politely as my feelings under the circum- 
stances would permit. 

I .submit herewith a copy of the paper left 
on ray table ; it is verbatim. ] consider the 
questions ridiculous, obtrusive, and iusult- 
ingin the extreme, totally unworthy of my 
notice, and were I to submit to such an in- 
quisition as has evidently been prepared for 
me, I would do great injustice to myself and 
encourage an outrage upon society at large. 
And I will further state to you, as I have°to 
some of the party engaged," that my recep- 
tion and treatment at the time of the paper 
was well judged, for had it been opened, and 
the contents^ known during the presence of 
its bearers in my dwelling, 1 am very cer- 
tain the consequences would have been 
serious. 

I have held friendly conversations with my 
fellow-citizens, and have treated them with 
confidence. 1 have not intruded my opin- 
ions knowingly, nor have I shrunk from the 
expression of them open and above board, 
and I hold that no man or set of men have 



tbc right to misjudge my motives; or control 
my conscience, any more than I have the 
right to do so to them. As long as I have 
exercised the privileges of a citizen of bavan- 
nali mv endeavors have been to discharge my 
duties' independently through good and evil 
report, and for the proofs thereof I refer yon 
to my past career. 

Let me ask you if there may not be some 
other motive than the public good alone which 
prompts such a question to me as that one 
marked number nine. I do not hesitate to 
declare that the man who suggested it against 
me can have no other guide or foundation 
than his own evil and corrupt heart; its 
beatings alone could suggest such an opinion 
of me, and I would not trust such a man on 
his oath; he must be a " sheep in wolfs 
clothing. ■■ Has such a man a public license 
to slander me, or to insult me with such a 
question? 1 answer '' No." 

Allov/ me to suggest to you tliat these are 
no times to arouse bad feelings among our- 
selves, and believing that you would not 
willingly be a party to injustice, I ask that 
you will use your influence to control your 
society for good and not for evil. 
Respectfullv vours, 

WYLIA' WOOPP.IMDGh:. 



The following notice was served on meat 
my office at noon — read, copied, and indig- 
nantly returned to the comnrittee-man who 
brought it : 

Resnlrah That tlie Saf'«ty Ouiiril require Mr. Wylly 
"VToodbrid^e to answer tlie interrogatorit^s in writing 
to this society, and to talie the oatli of allegiance to the 
Confederate States ; in default of wliich we will bring 
him before the proper authorities for investigation. 

Committee appointed, JOHN H. WILLINK. 

Copy of resolutions passed unanimously by Safety 
Guard, October 23, 1801. 



October 2'.}, 18G1. 

Soon after the State of Georgia seceded 
from the Union, I heard Mr. W. Woodbridge 
gay that Mr. Lincoln was legally elected by 
the people of the United States, and it 
was a good Government, and that Mr. Lin- 
coln ought to put down the Montgomery, or 
bogus, government, for it was as illegal one, 
Georgia better wait for some overt act of Mr. 
Lincoln ; and better fight him in the Union 
than out of it. 

I further state that I was opposed to the 
proceedings taken against Mr. Woodbridge. 
AVILLTAM LAKE. 



October 29, 186 L 
The night the safety guard arrested Mr. 
Olieyira, Mr. Willink and Dr. Hardee called 



on Mr. G. B. Lamar to get his opinion about 
the matter. When they returned I heard 
them say. that when they told Mr. Lamar 
that he, "Olievira, had been in conversation 
with Mr. Woodbridge, that he, Mr. Lamar, 
recommended the arrest and confinement of 
Mr. Olievira and Mr. Baird. 

WILLIAM LAKE. 

Note — Mr. Olievira was ii fisherman, and accused of 
holding communication with the Fec!er,-il fleet at the 
nidutli of the river. 



Reckless of personal consequences, 1 
committed my cause into the hands of a gal- 
lant relative and friend, who had at a previous 
time bedn the victim of a mob, and under his 
direction the following correspondence en- 
sued — he deemed me crazy: 

Savaxx.mi, Or/oher -AO. ISCl. 
(;• B. Lam All, Esq. : 

Dear Sir : I have of late been made tlu- 
subject of much annoj'ancc, and even insult, 
by an association which puts forth your name 
as one of its highest officers. You have 
known me many years ; all my life has been 
passed in this city, and I claim to be as true 
and loyal a citizen as any man in it ; had J 
been otherwise I would not have remained 
here to meet any contingencies that might 
result to me and mine as citizens of Georgia. 
It is reported to me that you urged the arrest 
of an individual on the charge of having 
been seen with me, as Is shown by the accom- 
panying certificate of Mr. Wm. Lake. This 
is truly extraordinary, if true. Will you do 
me the favor to explain if this use of your 
name and conllnned annoyance is by your 
sanction or afibrd me the me.ans of refuting 
those who may be using your name to the 
malicious injury of mine. 
1 ain 3-ours, 

WYLLY WOODBRIDGE. 



Savaxxah, October -il. 18GL 

WiLLV V.'OUDBRIDOE, Esq. : 

Dear Sir : I have yours of oOth inst., with 
a note from Mr. Lake, saying that "I had 
advised the arrest of Mr. Olievira when I 
had been informed that he had been in con- 
versation with you," about which there is 
some mistake, if not something greater. 
I never heard his name or yours men- 
tioned in any connection whatever. It is 
true I have known you many years, and it is 
equally true that every political expression 
of opinion I have ever heard from you has 
been in direct and extreme opposition to the 
present state of government ; but while we 
were then in subjugation, which I felt and de- 
plored — and which you did not heed, but re- 



joiccd in — a dificrence of opinion so great 
might be tolerated, whatever its origin. But 
there are very changed circumstances. Now, 
the issues are not mere party q_uestions,_they 
have assumed broader distinctions, which 1 
fear you do not properly realize. The issues 
arc now between war and peace, conquest 
and subjugation, life and death, and it is no 
time to be hesitating between the two sides. 
Those who are not for vs are against us. 
Tliose who are not our friends are our ene- 
mies, and there can be no neutrality tolerated 
on either side. The sooner you realize the 
truths I have stated and choose your position, 
the better. Your loyalty to this city or this 
State is not sufficient. You must be loyal to 
Ijincoln's Government or that of the Con- 
federate States. 

If you belong to the former you arc my 
enemy, and I would not hesitate to kill you 
the moment you told me so. If you belong 
<o the latter and, like your sons, manifest it 
in thoughts, words, and deeds, you are my 
iViend, as ever before, and shall have the 
boneht of it as far as I can serve you. 

Hitherto I have taken no part in the action 
against you, henceforth I shall be governed 
by your reply to this note — and all depends 
upon your loyalty to the country which pro- 
tects you and yours, or your enmity against 
it. I hope you will be frank and candid and 
speak out as plainly as i have done, so that 
there may be no misunderstanding on the 
uiomentous issues between us. 
Yours. 

0. ?,. I.AMAli. 



S.\\ AN.\ Aii. Xorrnilif.r \;. J.^Cil. 
(\. !]. l.AMAi;, Esq. : 

Dear tSir : Your letter of ;!lst ultimo, is 
hereby acknowledged. The paragraph in 
regard to Mr. Lake's note is satisfactory and 
I dismiss tliat subject from niy further con- 
sideration. 1 regret to ]ierceive that you in 
common with others are disposed to make as 
;i charge against mo the attachment I have 
professed for the old Union. I was attached 
to the old Union, and so long as it existed 1 
g;,ve to its Government my cordial allegiance. 
When that Union was dissolved by the act 
of the State of Georgia 1 took my place with 
the people of Georgia, with thousands of 
citizens who, whatever of regret they might 
feel for the j^ast, were not the less determined 
to support and maintain our native State in 
the great issue before us. For good or for 
evil, success or failure, J gave myself, my 
children, snd my fortune to the fate of my 
native State. 

You tell me that my " loyalty to this city 
or This State is not sufficient. You must be 



loyal to Lincoln's Government, or that of 
the Confederate States." 

I have no hesitancy in declaring to you, 
sir, that I do give to the State of Georgia my 
first and highest allegiance. It was through 
and by the act of Georgia that I recalled sill 
allegiance and abjured all obedience to the 
Government ot the United States. It was 
by and through the act of Georgia that I be- 
came a citizen of the confederacy of the 
southern States, and give it ray present alle- 
giance and supj^ort. So nlso, should the 
councils of our people find it necessary for 
their welfare to withdraw from this confed- 
eracy, I will be. true to my bii'th place and my 
birthright as a citizen of Georgia. AVhatever 
be in store for this State, I and mine will 
bear our jrart. This is the position I have 
chosen. If that be disloyalty, I have j^et to 
learn it. 

You make reference to my children. It is 
ungenerous in you, sir, on that single ac- 
count, to ciuestiou my lo3'alty, and bitter, too, 
when I remember that all my sons, with my 
consent and support, enrolled in the ranks 
of the volunteers for the defense of the 
country. 

The respect I have felt for you, and the 
fact that your name had been used by parties 
who seem bent on doing me such injury as 
their malace could compass, induced me to 
address you, as I did not suppose you doubted 
me as a citizen, or could countenance ia 
others the indulgence of personal dislike un- 
der the plea of patriotic inquisition. In ad- 
dressing you I gave you the right to question 
me : I have endeavored to make my answer 
as '-frank and candid" as you have desired. 
Respectfullv vours, 

'\V. WOODF.HIDGE. 

The city of Savannah, Georgia, was in a 
state of intense excitement. The news of 
the capture of the \\'alker bavtery on Hilton 
Head, and the arrival of retreating troops, 
among them many of the wounded, aroused 
the intensest feeling. Everybody was in the 
street, and large crowds collected around 
the news and telegraphic offices throughout 
the day until late at night. Families com- 
menced packing up, and large numbers of 
females and children were sent from the city 
by the night train to the country. The ef- 
flux will probabl}' continue, and upon the 
whole, we think this portion of the popula- 
tion should not be present to embarrass the 
defensive preparation. — Sacaiiimh J'cpuhli- 
can, Nov. 9, 1861. 

NOTK. — After tlip above mauifestatiuu of power of the 
Uniteil States (rovernmeiit, so neur SavannpJi, where 
every gun could lie lieanl, tlie Siifety GxiiU'd puisued me 
no turther, and I believe it was on this day of excite- 
ment that) virotf tlio letter to (ieneial Lnwton, then 
in i-oiii)n;-.iiil of t)ie ritv, v.ith the biii!;le purpose of 



•^eekinf; his protection against my enemiep, who cUemed 
me un^:i^.l'fl, arui w.-re eudeavoring to havs mo sent to 
Riclimoud ub a jiriuoner. 



Savaxkah, Xovemhcr 11, l^Cil. 
WvLi-v WooDBRiDGE, Esq. : 

Dear Sir : Your letter of the tJth in.staiit, 
in reply to mine of Cist iilt., was not receive! 
till late on the evening it was written. 

I am very sorry you disregarded my re- 
qviest, and failed to improve the occasion 
furnished you promptly and frankly to define 
your position among us. What estimate 
ought to be placed upon the sincerity of a 
letter of opinions which six days were neces- 
sary to elaborate ; and how far can such 
opinions go to overturn the doctrines not 
long ago expressed, totally to the contrary of 
such an elaboration? 

The laws of the Confederacy have declared 
all who adhered to the Lincoln dynasty to 
be alien enemies, and gave them foi-ty days 
to v/ithdraw from our midst ; that time has 
expired long ago, and it becomes those who 
remain here to give some tangible evidence, 
and more especially those who were known 
to be advocates of Lincoln, and were willing 
to take oftlce under him, to demonstrate that 
they are not now enemies at heart and friends 
in disguise. 

Your attempt to pervert the reference I 
took pleasure in making to tlie patriotism of 
your sons nor/ in the army, only throws 
greater doubt upon the contents of your let- 
ter. I confess that I am entirely unable to 
comprehend you, and I do not rely on your 
loj'alty as I wish I could have had a good 
foundation to do, and cannot until you give 
some stronger evidence of a change in your 
previous opinions. 

You are greatly la error, too, in supi^osing 
tliat no man except those to whom you have 
acceded the privilege, has a right to interro- 
gate you at the present crisis. Every man 
is liable by law to show his colors, and more 
especially those whose previous history af- 
fords so many grounds for disloyalty. We 
have a perfect right to be satisfied who are 
our enemies and who arc to be relied on as 
friends, and it behooves you now to ad as 
well as lo s^peak, and you cannot too soon 
remove the doubts which surround you. I 
write you plainly and frankly, but though I 
am not fully satisfied of your tuniiy, [ am not 
your enemy. 

Yours, 

(\. 15. LAMAR. 



Judge of the District Court of the Confed 
erate States for the Southern District of 
Georgia, in the sum of ($40) forty dollars, 
as a defaulting grand juror at its April term, 
1862, and I am required by the court to col 
lect the same from you by process of attach- 
ment. I am not desirous of issuing said pro 
cess of attachment against you, or to add to 
the fine and costs, and I would, therefore, 
suggest to you the propriety, and request 
that you would, early in the ensuing week, 
hand to or remit me the amount of said fine. 
T remain, very respectfully. 
Your obedient servant, 

CHARLES S. IIKNRY, Clerk. 

XoTE. — I absented myself on pnrposi' to jjvoid t.ilving 
the Confederate oath, which I had lesolvod never to do, 
and giving assiHtance to a court wliich I despised. 

Madisox, Sept., T, 18G0. 
\\. WooDBiUDGE, Savannah, Ga. ; 

Dear Sir : I write to acknowledge the re 
ceipt of your kind and sensible letter. No 
man could ofler better advice. It is verj' 
seldom that a man of truth, gains anything 
politically by much writing. You cannot 
think much worse of the insane folly which 
has put to hazard all that was worth living 
for than I do. I have been astonished at the 
moderation of the adversaries of secession. 
If they would have only remained passive as 
to the merits of what had been done, I think 
it would have been better. 

AVith much respect, yours, truly. 

JOSHUA' IIILr,. 

Of1K';j ClIIKl^ C'OMMl.SSAltV, 

Savannah, October I'J, 1803, 

WvM.Y WOODBRIDGE, Esq : 

>S7)": I have been directed by the com 
manding general at Richmond to purchase 
as much of the new crop of rice as I can, at 
15 cents per pound. Many planters have of- 
fered to let the Government have one-half of 
their crop at the above price. Will you 
please ascertain if those for whom you are 
factor are willing to do the same, and let 
me know as soon as practicable. 

r>y direction of the Chief Commissary. 
Yours, vf'rv rospectfullv, 

GEO. I>. COPE. 
Caj^f- and A. C. S- 



Savakxaii, April ", 18<31!. 
Wtllv W'oodbridge, Esq. : 
Dear Sir : You have been fined by the 



Savaxxau, Oi'ceinber 'JO, 18G3. 
Ma.iou .kiux ScuivEX : 

Dear Sir: In answer to Mr. Baldwiii's 
personal application,! have positively de 
clined entering into any engagement regard- 
ing the sale of your rice to Government, be- 
cause it is not possible to know how and when 



i 



it can be read}' for delivery, and I do not 
wish to commit, rayselt" in view of many con- 
tingencies. My course, however, need not 
interfere with your reflection.^, for I shall be 
most happy to be relieved of all responsibil- 
ity in the matter, and if you so wish, no 
doubt Jlessrs. Habersham will be glad to in- 
clude your crops in their bargain, which I con- 
sider a mo.st unfortunate one for the planters. 
1 am vor-r.-^. very trulv. 

W. WOODBHLDGK. 



.Sav.vxxah. Decciuber 'C>(K IbiVu. 
M.\jou .Ions ScRivKX — 

Dear Sir : After talking witJi you a few 
days since, about selling lo me for the Liov- 
crnment one-half your rice crop, at 15 cents 
per pound, J called on Mr. \Voodbridge. 
who tells me he does not feel authorized to 
make any such arrangement. It will be neces- 
sary for me tn have ati order on Mr. W., as 
he will not do what you stated to me you had 
told him to do, viz : the same as the other 
planters had dotie. If you are still willing 
to sell tlic Government one half vour crop, 
please send me an order, so that T may ar- 
range with Mr. Woodbridge about it. 
Yours, truly, 

• "T). H. BALDWIN. 

Capt. and A. C S. 

Tiie Cuiife<l-M-nt>' (iovei'iiuifiit did not s^et the rW>'. at 
ihis or any otlier time from ma, nor did my mill ever 
do any worlc orreoeivd any money from it in any way. 
At one fiingle lime the Commie-.sary bought 40 barrels 
from a tliird party, wbicli I was obliged to deliver to 
■lis order, but he disputedmy bill of espouses, and never 
i«aid it. After tbo secession of Georjria I declined to do 
work exc.ipt to fulfil mj- eng.igemeut.s with iny Irieiid^. 



Mfr.nwRV of;,der>. 

Hi;u)(»"ks 1st Mil. Dts. Gkorut.v Militia. 

MoxTiETT, July 2'i, 18G1. 
Mr. W. Woodbridge having .applied to the 
inferior court for exemption from the late 
call of the Governor, he will not be inter- 
fered with by the enrolling oftieor of the dis- 
trict f ir the next four davs. 

GEO. P. IIAlUlf.SON. A. I). C. 



EXKCC'TIVK Dr.lMllTMKNT. 

Mii.i.DDCKviu.K, G.V., AiigmtlG, l.SG<. 
Col. A. A. Wii.HLR, Sacannah : 

Colonel : Information having been re- 
ceived that Wylly Woodbi-idge is at home, 
improperly out of the military service, the 
Governor directs that you will order him 
(Mr. Woodbridge) to the front immediately, 
■o report to the proper command for duty. 
Very respectfully, 

JAMES M. MOBLY, 
■Col. and Aid-dc- Vamp for Gov. Brown. 



Executive Departmkkt. 
Wyij.y WoonimiDCE, Savannah, Ga. ; 

Sir: In reply to your letter, I am directed 
to say that the Governor has been informed 
that you were remaining at home improp- 
erly, and hence issued the order which he 
did ; but upon a full investigation of the 
facts he is satislied that such is not the fact, 
and has directed me to inclose to you his 
order revoking hi.s former order, and ap- 
proving the action of the inferior court of 
your county in e.xempting you, and this 
being shown to Colonel Wilbur, or any one 
else, ■will exempt you. 

After assuring you that everything is sa- 
tisfactory. 

I am, sir, vour obedient servant. 

JAMES M. MOBLY, 

Col. and Aidc-dc- Camp for Gov. Brown. 



Executive Department, 
MlLLEDOEVILLE, Aro/Kst 22, 1864. 

Upon a hearing of all the fixcta I approve 
the action of the inferior court of Chatham 
county, and revoke my special order sending 
}\lv. Woodbridge to Atlanta. 

JOSEPH E. BROWN, 
Governor of Georgia. 



Savaxxaii. Aiajt'sf 26, 1861- 
W. WooDiuiiBGE, Esq.: 

Referring to the order received from His 
Excellency Governor Brown to send you to 
the front, I have to state that 1 have received 
an order since revoking that order, and the 
whole matter is left with the inferior court, 
who will decide upon the case as to than 
seems just and right. My order sent j'ouby 
Lieutenant Williams i.5 also revoked, and 
you are relieved from reporting to headquar- 
ters until farther orders. 
Respectfully yours. 

AARON WILBUR, 
(\)l. and Aide-de-Camp to Gov. Broivn. 



Headquartek.«. kCi 
I Savaxxah, November 17, 1864. 

I Mr. Wvli.y Woodbridge: 
! Sir: You have failed to comply with my 
request made a few days ago. _ I have just 
learned that you have not yet joined Captain 
Oliver's company, and I here warn you that 
you are required to join tliat company for 
city police, between this and Saturday, or 
the law will be enforced against you as told 
you before. My orders are peremptory and 
must be executed. 

W. II. HOLAND, 
Lienf. Col and A. />. C. for Gov. Brovm. 



syUAD No. :. 
Capt. .J. G. Mi U.S. Chairman. 
OcTAvrs COUKX, 

AXDREW Low, 
W. WOODBRIDGK, 
J. E. WlLDKR. 

Oavt. J. G. MiL!,s, Chairman : 

Will please notify the above named parties 
that they must hold themselves in readiness 
1o repair to the Committee Rooms, near the 
Centrail railroad at any moment, night or 
day, whenever summoned by you, to attend 
to the sick and wounded soldiers. 

n. BRIGHAM, 
Sacattuah liclief Committee. 



AVTKP^ GENERAL SHERMAN'S OC- 
CUPATION OF THE CITY. 

irEAnorAUTKRS City ok Savaxxaii, 

.lanuari) ], 1865. 
Brig. Gi;x. Eastox, 

Chief Quartermadcr, M. I). W. 
General : Mr. Woodbridge, who presents 
this note, is the owner of the rice mill at the 
eastern end of the city. His mill is included 
vjithin the limits which have been assigned for 
Government use. Mr. W> is the one chief 
representative of the Union men in this city, 
and has been such consistently through the 
war. 

I hope you will except his properly, if 
possible, from being appropriated for Gov- 
ernment use. 

Very respectfully, 

JOHN W. GEARY, 
, t^i'i'J- Cen. CommanrV g City. 

Dki'art.mkxt ok S'r.vTt;, 
Wasiuxgtox, /«?»/«/•// 8, 180"). 
Vv'vi.i.Y Woodbridge, Esq., 

Savannah. 
Dear Sir .- Your letter of the 27th ultimo 
relative to your claim to the restoration of 
certain cotton, v/hich you allege Avas un- 
properly seized bythe United States authoii- 
ties, has been received. I am, dear sir. 
Your obedient servant, 

W. HUNTER, 
Acting Secretary. 



Savaxxaii, Ga., Janitari/ 1'.}, 1805. 
On the 21st day of December last, the 
day of the occupation of this city, I became 
acquainted with Mr. Wylly Woodbridge, a 
native resident of this city. I am entirely 
satisfied from rt:'])eated conversations with 
Mr. Woodbridge, from remarks made in my 
presence by secessionists- of the city, and by 



the perusal of threatening letters and other 
documents sent to Mr. Woodbridge since tho 
outbreak of tlie rebellion, that he has at all 
times been loyal to the United States Gov- 
ernment, that he has given no voluntary aid 
to the so-called Confederate Government, 
and that he has supported the Union of the 
States so far as allowed to do so by the mili- 
tary despotism which has ruled in Georgia 
for the last four years. His life and proi^er- 
ty have both jjcen repeatedly threatened for 
his devotion to the United States Govern- 
ment. 

W. R. WOODS, of tlic TOth Ohio. 
T!f. Brig. General and late Frovo.it Mar- 
■•ihal Eastern District Savannah. 

" W. AV'oodbridge. rice factor and com- 
mission merchant, has done but little since 
the war — still in the city — an ojion Uui.i'-'. 
man from the beginning." 

No. 11, Fifth Avkxik Hoiki.. 
New York, Ja)i.)i.ar>/ ilO, 18115.. 
W. Woodbridge, Esq., 

J/y Deci)' Sir : Allow me to congratulate 
you upon once more being within Union 
lines. My heart was gladdened this morn- 
ing Ijy seeing the above scrap in the news- 
paper. I had often thought of 'you and felt 
assured that nothing could alienate you from 
the Union. ]\Iy wife is truly liapp}', lor sho 
has many valued and cheri.shed friends in 
dear old Savannah. 

\'orv .sincerely, your friend, 

'.lOHN GIJANGF.l!. 

\Vas.uixgtox. March 11, 1805. 

J/y Dear Sir : I duly received your letter 
of January last, with the accompanying 
papers, and presented the case to Secretary 
Stanton at our first interview after his re- 
turn from Savannah. He said to me that 
Gen. Sherman had the whole subject in 
charge, and would, he iiad no doubt, give 
yonr ca,>e attention. 

On receiving, a day or two since, your let- 
ter to Judge Wayne, which he sent to me 
with his endorsement, I again called on Sec- 
retary Stanton in your behalf, and also ad- 
dressed him a letter enclosing yours to Judge 
Wayne, with the Judge's endorsement. 

The Secretary says he well recollects my 
presentation of the case, and he has no doubt 
tho military autiiorities will do Avhat they 
can for you, but that perhaps the best way 
may be to turn tho property over to theru 
and take receipts therefor, for the Govern- 
ment will remunerate every loyal citizen- 

[ told him I thought your case an extreme- 
ly hard and very deserving one, and merited. 



9 



I thought, special consideration. Indeed, I 
had hoped that the a\itlioi'itie.s. on learning 
your position, had of themselves aftbrded 
you protection and securit)-, and J still trust 
that such is the fact. 

I am not familiar with the proceedings 
which have taken place at Savannah, and 
the property captured, or -whether discrim- 
ination has Ijeen had between loyal and 
disloyal citizens in taking possession : but 
that ultimate payment will be made to those 
who, like you, have been true. 1 cannot 
doubt, and it will give me much pleasure if 
1 can be of assistance to you. 
Trnlv yniir iVicnd, 

r.lDEON WI'LI/MS. 



Ti:i:A.sri!v Dki'aiitmkxt, 

l)eccmher'P,],'lS(i4. 
A. (;. BuowxK, Esq., 

Supercising Special Afjeul, 

Treasurij Deparlmcni , olh Aijcarij -. 

Sir: 1 have received your letter of the 
2Gth instant, inclosing copy of a letter to you 
from General Foster, advising you that Gen- 
<;ral Sherman will turn over to you the cotton 
recently captured by him at Savannah, and 
reporting the action you propose to take in 
the premises. \ 

Simeon Draper, Esq., Collector of Cus- 
toms at New York, has been appointed a 
Special Agent of the Department, aiul will 
proceed to Savannah as early as possible to 
take charge of this cotton, under special in- 
structions. On his arrival you will act in the 
premises as directed in the letter which he 
brings to you for me. 

In the meantime, if tlie cotton has been 
turned over to you, you will take all neces- 
sary steps towards its care and safe-keeping, 
as well as that of any other captured or 
abandoned property received or collected by 
you, but you will take no conclusive meas- 
ures in relation to its shipment irom Sa- 
vannah. 

Your attention is particularly directed, in 
this connection, to the fourth regulation con- 
cerning personal property, series of July 29, 
1864, and you will exercise the greatest cau- 
tion to the end that the information procured 
by you thereunder be conunuuicated to no 
person but Mr. Draper, to whom you will 
furnish copies of all information so obtained. 
You will also decline to consider the claims 
or applications of all persons for the restora- 
tion or release to them of any of the prop- 
erty received or collected by you as above. 
^'ery respectfully. 

W. P. FESSENDEN, 
Secretary of the Treasuri!. 



Tn'ii Special Agency of Treas'y Dec't, 
Savannah, Ga., March 12, 1.SG5. 
Hon. IIUOH McCuLLocii, 

Secretary of the Treasury : 

Sir : My attention has been called to sev- 
eral cases of peculiar hardship by citizens of 
this place, whom I deem loyal and as true to 
the Union as persons so situated usually are. 
These persons had always hoped and be- 
lieved that the Union cause would finally 
triumph. Believing this, and having a de- 
sire to pay their northern indebtedness, they 
were looking to their cotton for that pur- 
pose. 

All cotton, as you are aware, has been 
seized, and has been or is to be sent forward. 
By my former instructions I was to have 
verified the claims of each individual, but 
the order of Mr. Draper overruled this. 
Much as I may regret the fact, as a faithful 
officer of the Government, I am bound to 
obey instructions ; but I am confident that 
it would be better for us to recognize some 
of these claims, wliich are as righteous and 
just as I many we have allowed. Now, it 
would appear the unfortunate loyal citizen, 
the owner of cotton, is i^laced on a worse 
footing than the owner of other proijerty. 
who may be at heart disloyal, yet unscrupul- 
ous cnoagli to take an oath of allegiance- 
Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

A. G. BROWNE, 
Siijtrrris' ij Sj^crial Aft Trens'y Dep' I. 



licgiatration of cotton for Culond FansoiJi. 
in oxcordance wit/i. military orders. 

I have in the store of the .Savannah Rice 
Mill, at the foot of East Broad street, on 
wharf lots numbers and 10, which build- 
ing is under my own supervision, and occu- 
pied by me, 4o bales Sea Island Cotton, 
marked W. W.. of which 40 are round bales 
and o squarcbales; also 74 bales cotton, Up- 
lands, all of which is square cotton, and 
marked W. W., 1 a 74. The aggregate 
weight of the 4o bales Sea Island Cotton is 
14,823 pounds. The weight of the Uplands 
together is :]•'), 7-j2 pounds. 

WYLLY AVOODrWUDGE. 

Savvxnau, March 1'^, 1805. 



Cerlificate of the Clerk of Colonel Eansom. 
wlto demanded my key to remove the cotton. 
Savaxkah, Marcli 17, 18G5. 
This is to certify that on Monday and Tues- 
day last, loth and 14th days of the present 
month, there was removed, under my super- 
vision, from the stores of the Savannah 



10 



Steam Kice Mill, on the river, at the foot of 
East Broad street, where Mr. AVylly Wood- 
bridge lias his office. 

43 bales Sea Island cotlon. 

71 bales Upland cotton. 

All in good order and condition, bearing, 
besides other brands, the mark of W. "W. on 
the sides of the bales. 

And I do further certify that my authority 
for removino; said cotton was received from 
Colonel II. C. Hansom, Lieutenant Colonel 
and Quartermaster U. S. Army, in charge of 
•■■otton in the city of Savannah. 

Signed in duplicate. 

A. H. WA^'ER. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me tliis 
ITih of March. 1805. 

EBEN PARSONS, Jr., 

l.sf. Lleii.L -mh Mass. Ile<jt., Froi: Judge. 



TioxEER, "Williams County. 
March 1, 1805. 
^V. WoounKiDUE, Esq., Savannah, Ga. ; 

Your veiy welcome letter, bearing date 
February lo, came to hand last night. I 
was very glad to hear from j-ou, indeed, and 
to know you were well and still under the 
protection of the old flag, and that all was 
moving on quietly and peaceably. I am 
sorry to hear that you were not allowed to 
handle your own cotton, for I know you had 
a better right to do so than Simeon Draper, 
or any other man, and had the Government 
at Washington had the facts in your case 
properly presented, 1 am satisfied you 
could have done so. If I had thought 
as much about it while I was in Savannah 
as I have since, I would have spoken to Gen. 
Woods, and we would have gotten np some 
papers and had them signed by such men as 
was then in Savannah, who would have done 
it willingly, that I could have brought on to 
Washington, that would have secured to you 
your rights. I fear you have been too deli- 
cate about urging your claims, or asking the 
protection vou arc justly entitled to. 

L. W. kiCHARDSON, 
Lieid. loth Ohio Rcqi. 



llKAUti'uS, DiSTlMCT OF SaVANNAU, 

Savannah, Ga., March 'll, ISGo. 
Mr. W. Woodbridge leaves Savannah this 
day for a short visit North. Mr. Woodbridge 
is, and always has been, a prominent and gen- 
uine friend to the Union cause, more so 1 be- 
lieve than any other citizen of Savannah. I 
would therefore recommend that he receive 
every consideration due a loyal citizen, and 
be allowed to return to Savannah whenever 
he may wish. C. GROVER, 

Brevet Maj. General. 



War Depaktmknt, May 27, 1835. 
WvLLY WooDBRiDGK, Esq., of Gcorjia : 

Sir : 1 have the honor to Inform you that 
you have been appointed a member of the 
Board of Visitors to attend the annual ex 
amination of the Military Academy at West 
Point. The examination will commence on 
the first day of June ne.\t. 
Respectfullv, 

EDWJN 3r. STANTON, 

Sec. of IFar. 

[Copy.] 

We, the subscribers, citizens and mer 
chants of the city of Savannah, beg leave to 
recommend Mr. Wylly Woodbridge as a gen 
tleman who has been a consistent Union 
man during the war, and well qualified to fill 
the office of Collector for the port of Savan- 
nah. H. BRIGHAM, 
Pres't South. Ins7ir. Co., and others. 

I have made full inquiries and examination 
of this case, and think the appointment 
Avould commit to our cause a class of influ 
ential people, as also recognize the fidelity of 
a good Union man against much pressure- 
W. T. SHERMAN, 
Maj. Gcn'l Command'g. 

]lEAl)Q"L"AUTEr.S CiTY OF SaVAXXAH; 

January 7, 1865. 

J I affords me tlie gi-eatest pleasure to add 
my approval to the within recommendation 
for the appointment of Wylly Woodbridge, to 
the position of Collector of this port. Mr. 
Woodbridge is a distinguished merchant of 
this city, and I have received the most un 
questionable assurance that he has remained 
an unflinching and open advocate of the 
Union cause since the commencement of the 
war. J NO. W. GEARY, 

Bri^j Gen'l Command'rj. 

Tkkasiky Dkpaktment. 
Fehniary 17, 1868. 

'J"lie foregoing is a true copy of the origi 
nal of file in this Department. 

C. E. CREECY, 
Appointment Clerk. 

i, ^^'ylly Woodbridge, having been appoint- 
ed to the office of Collector of the Customs 
for the District of Savannah, in the State of 
Georgia, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly 
swear, that I will diligently and faithfully 
execute the duties of the said office of Col 
lector of the Customs, and will use the best 
of my endeavors, to prevent and detect 



11 



frauds in relation to the duties imposed by 
the laws of the United States. 1 further 
swear that I will support the Constitution of 
the fTnited States. 

WYLLY WOODBRIDGE, 
ColUdvr. 

Sworn and subscribed ihis seventh day of 
July, IJStJo. Witness mv hand and seal. 
EBEN PARSONS, Jr.. 
Provost Judge, District of Sacannali. 

,1. IT . W. Birge, Brevet Major General U. 
S. Volunteers, do hereby certify that Eben 
Parsons, Jr., who administered the above 
oath, was at tlie time of doing so, duly an- \ 
thorized to administer the same ; and that 
full faith and credit are due to his otlicial at- 
testations. 

In testimony whereof 1 have hereto set my 
hand, this seventh dav of Julv, 1865. 

H. W. BIRGE. 
Brevet Maj. Gen I Com'(j. 

1 , Wylly Woodbridge, do solemnly swear that 
I have never voluntarily borne arms against 
the United States since I have been a citizen 
thereof; that I have voluntarily given no aid, 
countenance, counsel, or encouragement to 
persons engaged in armed hostility thereto : 
that I have neither sought, nor accepted, nor 
attempted to exercise the functions of any 
office whatever, under any authority, or pre- 
tended authority, in hostility to the United 
States ; that I have not yielded a voluntary 
support to any pretended government, au- 
thority, power, or constitution, within the 
United States, hostile or inimical thereto. 
And I do further swear that, to the best of 
my knowledge and ability, I will support and 
defend the Constitution of the United States 
against all enemies, foreign and domestic : 
that I will bear true fiiith and allegiance to 
the same : that I take this obligation freely, 
without any mental reservation or purpose of 
evasion : and that I will well and faithfully 
discharge the duties of the oftice on which I 
am about to enter : So heln me God. 

WYLLY WOODBRIIXi K. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 
22d day of June. A. D. 1805. 

GEO. T. BETTS. 
CleH- r. .s'. />/.-•. Covrt Sv. Pis. X. )'. 



T r. E.VS UK V D Kl'AKTM EN I' . 

October 27, 1865. 
Dear -Sir : 1 have seen your letter of tiie 
fjth instant, transmitting your resignation, 
&c., &c., and referring for explanations to 
your letter of the 21st ultimo, to the Com- 
missioaers of Customs, .and liis reply thereto. 



dated the 29th ultimo. T have also seen your 
private letter, dated the 20th instant, ad- 
dressed to the Commissioner. 

I am unwilling to have you resign, but par- 
ticularly am I anxious that you should not 
do so at this time. It would be a great satis- 
faction to have you communicate freely and 
unofficially to mo the real causes which ren- 
der your present position objectionable. 

I assume that the objections, whatever 
they may be, would be as ofiensive to any 
other person as to you, and if it is in my 
power to remove them I will take great pleas- 
ure in doing so. 

I am. very respt'ctfully, 

n. McCULLOCIL 
W'vi.r.v WooDiJKiDOK, Esq. 

Savaxxah. Deeernbcr '2'u 1865. 



llo.x. II. McCrLi.oCH : 

Dear Sir : I have your regarded favor of 
16th instant, received to-day. My communi- 
cation to you was private, and so personal, 
intended alone to explain niy silence so long 
in not answering your letter, and to excuse 
my resignation, that I am reallj' sorry you 
have used it for any other purpose or shown 
it to any one. 

My resignation was seni you after mature 
consideration of all my. surroundings ; it was 
pressed by two or three letters asking for its 
acceptance, and it is a matter of deep regret 
that I did not obtain a release at that time. 
The perplexities and responsibilities of my 
position are too great, to my mind, to permit 
me to be persuaded, even by patriotism and 
pride, to continue. Xou write : " It is quite 
important, however, that you should not re- 
sign the collectorship until It shall be ascer- 
tained that the oatli is not likely to be modi- 
fied by Congress.'" This matter was in my 
thoughts when I determined to resign — and 1 
had no hope of its modification — and I was 
anxious to be independent of Congress. It 
will not always do to trust to princes or to 
men, as my own experience will show, and a 
'•willing horse may be ridden to death.'' 
After four years of hard suffering, and the 
utmost confidence In the magnanimity of my 
Government, among a people determined 
upon its overthrow, I relied strongly on that 
G overnment to protect mo in my property and 
ackowledge my just claims; but it would not 
restore to me what its agents had wrongfully 
taken from my peaceable and quiet posses- 
sion — "one hundred and seventeen bales 
cotton, without any proof left with me of its 
removal, leaving aie with the shadow of a 
claim to be settled In the future" — while 
every day, as a public officer enjoying the 
confidence of the Administration, I am 
obliiTPd to witness thousands of bales of cot- 



12 



ton passing freely as the propertj- of those 
■whose hearts were bitterly opposed to the 
Government. Thus, while there is no_ re- 
ward for the Union man, treason receives 
no punishment as a crime, and the ardent 
participators in it enjoy the smiles of those 
they once spit upon, and before the people 
appear as patriots devoted to the "State's 
service.'" I ask you what encouragement 
is there for me to go on doing good V Sup- 
pose there should be a chaage in Washing- 
ton, and yourself and other gentlemen of the 
Cabinet, avIio I believe are friends of mine 
and mean to do me justice, think it best to 
withdraw from office, what then would be- 
come of me and my just claims ? It is of the 
utmost importance to me and family that my 
projierty should not be liable, nor my bonds- 
men, for moneys paid clerks that I was 
obliged to hire to conduct a public office held 
against my judgment and will. You say 
nothing about my desire that you send an 
experienced customs officer for my relief; 
nor do you give me any encouragement about 
the settlement of my accounts. I am anxious 
to settle this matter while I can control it, 
and remain, 

Yei-y truly, 

>'onr obedient servant. 

WYLLY WOODr.RlDdK. 



'!'|;i;AKIKV ])ErART,MEXT, 

3farch 2, 1866. 

JJcar Sir : ^'our favor of the 24th instant 
IS received. 1 have been expecting, from 
day to day, that Congiiess vrould so modify 
the oath of office as to relieve you of a j^art 
of your pcr])lcxities by enabling the account- 
ing officers of the Department to audit the 
accounts of your subordinates. 

AVill you do me the favor, in the event no 
change is made in the oath, to advise me 
whether or not competent men can be found 
in Savannah to fill the different offices in the 
custom-house who can qualify under the law 
as it now stands. 

I sincerely regret to be under the necessity 
of saying that I have no power whatever to 
pay to claimants, no matter how loyal they 
may have been, the proceeds of the cotton 
captured at Savannah. The law, as inter- 
preted by the Attorney Ceneral, is impera- 
tive. My duty is to receive from the mili- 
tary forces of the United States, and to col- 
lect captured and almndoned property,, and 
to dispose of it according to the statute. 

No man can regret more tban I do my 
inability to draw a line of distinction be- 
tween loyal and disloyal claimants ; and 
especially my inability to serve so true and 
loyal a man as yourself. I am, however, as i 



you know, only an executive officer, who 
must execute the law as he finds it. 
I am, very trulv. vours. 

II. Mcculloch, seereton,. 

AVvl.l.V WOODBRIDGE, 

( oUertor of Customs. 

IIkadq'iis Mil. Div. oftiir Mississun-i. 
St. Louis, Mo., October 2o, 1865. 
Wylly Woodbridge, Esq., of Savannah, 
held certain cotton on the ca])turc of Savan- 
nah. My hrst orders were that all cotton 
should be sent to New York by the quarter- 
master, each lot being mnrked .and invoiced 
according, that claimants afterward might 
claim their own. But the Secretary of War, 
Mr. Stanton, on arrival, oi'dered all cotton to 
go into the possession of Mr.Simeon Draper, 
a special agent of the Treasury Department. 
I know nothing personally or officially of 
that cotton since. I believe Mr. Woodbridge 
to have been an honorable, u])right, good 
man, and have so stated on many occasions, 
and if restitution of cotton, or the proceeds 
of sale thereof, has been madeto.any one in 
Savannah, a like course should be observed 
to him. This is as far as I am willing to act 
in ,anv case of the kind. 

W. T. SHERMxVN, 
Major General Vnm.r,iandhiq. 



AIJANDONEI) AND CAPTUREI) TKOP- 

ERTY. 
Regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
the Treasury for the several special agents 
appointed in pursuance of the act of March 
12, I860, entitled, 'An act to provide for 
the collection of abandoned propertj', and 
for the prevention of frauds in insurrec- 
tionary districts M-ithin the United States.' 
Sectiox 4. Abandoned property is of two 
discriptions ; first that which has been or 
may be deserted by owners : and second, that 
which has been or may be voluntarily aban- 
doned by the owners to the civil or military 
authorities of the United States. Captured 
property is that which has been or may be 
seized or taken awaj' from hostile possession 
by the military or naval forces of the United 
States. 

Sec. 5. Special agents Avill collect and re- 
ceive property, and make and keep a true 
record and account of expenses. 

Supervising and assistant .special agents 
will exercise due diligence in receiving and 
collecting, within the agency to which they 
have been respectively assigned, all aban- 
doned and captured i^rojierty, and upon tak- 
ing possession of any such property will im- 
mediately make and keep a full and correct 
record of all the facts oi- information in rp- 



gard to eacli case or lot known or accessible 
to them, including as nearly as possible the 
following : the character and quantity of the 
property received or collected, when cap- 
tured, or found or received as abandoned, 
under what circumstances, by whom owned 
or alleged to be owned, noting, when practi- 
cable, the name and address of one or more 
truthful residents of the neighborhood ac- 
quainted with the property and the owner 
or claimant thereof, and any statements they 
may make in connection therewith, b}' 
whom such property was captured or aban- 
doned, by whom received or collected, from 
whom received, all names, marks, signs, 
or devices (whether distinct, indistinct, 
or partially erased) upon such property, to- 
gether wrth all other information which may 
ill any way serve to identity or make knawn 
the history of any particular lot, to trace the 
same or the proceeds thereof from the earliest 
possible to its final disposition. 

Sec. (3. Supervising and assistant special 
agents will receive within their respective 
agencies any property from persons who 
offer voluntarily'to abandon the same, and 
shall give a receipt therefor to the person so 
abandoning it, or to his or her agent, iu the 
following form : 

A record of all property so received, and 
all the expenses incurred in connection there- 
with shall be made and copies transmitted, 
and the property shall be disposed of in the 
manner prescribed in Regulation 5. 

Sec. If). — Each supervising special agent 
or other person, shall make a full record of 
such lot or parcel coming to his possession, 
in the manner j^rescribed in llegulation 5, 
and report the same and all sales or other 
disposition thereof made by him, rendering 
a monthly account current of all his transac- 
tions to the Secretary, accompanying the 
same with receipts or other vouchers for all 
moneys paid out by him : all balances re- 
maining in his hands shall be deposited in 
the Treasury from time to time, as directed 
by the Secretary. 



SAVANNAH COTTON. 

Collector Simeon Draper has made an 
elaborate otllcial report of all the facts con- 
cerning the cotton taken at Savannah by 
General Sherman. The total number of 
bales is 38,')00, of which G.OOO bales are Sea 
Island. It had been gathered in from the va- 
rious Confederate States, partly to prevent its 
falling into the possession of the Union raid- 
ing forces, but principally that it might easily 
be shipped by blockade-runners. The great 
portion of it belonged to the so-called Con- 
federate government. It was found stored 
in different sections of the citv. Soon after 



General Sherman took possession of the cot- 
ton many persons went into the warehouses 
on their own account, in Savannah, and 
marked a large number of bales. Many of 
these marks represented j^ersons who were 
dead. The persons who thus marked the 
bales and professed to be genuine claimants 
of the cotton were not the legitimate living 
representatives of the former owners. These 
facts being known, an order was immediately 
issued to prevent persons entering the ware- 
houses where the cotton was stored. The 
statements that private marks had been ob- 
literated since the cotton came into the hands 
of the Government are pronounced untrue. 
The rebel government brand was removed 
from a large number of bales by the rebels 
at the time of the evacuation, with the inten- 
tion of claiming the cotton themselves. Many 
sucli persons are undoubtedly among the loyal 
claimants. In removing those lirands a great 
part of the bagging was destroyed. New 
bagging was necessary, which was furnished 
under the superintendence of (reneral Meigs. 
The [Jnited States agents or oUicers did not 
obliterate any private mark on a single bale 
of the Savannah cotton. 

The order forbidding persons from going 
into the warehouses, besides the reasons above 
stated, was to prevent the rebel government 
agents from purting fire to it, which was sev- 
eral times attempted by them. 

M): Draper, in a pubUc notice, announced 
that any statement that any party desired to 
make concerning the cotton tuonld be received, 
by an agent designated for t/iaf jmrpose- 
Many statements have been made and have 
been carefully viewed by Mr. Draper, and at 
the proper time will receive due consideration 
from the Secretary of the Treasury. Within 
the next ten days a part of tliis cntton will be 
advertised for sale in New York. 



^YAsmxf;TOX, February V.), 1867. 
Hon. H. Stanbkuy, Attorney General, U. S.i 

Sir: I am a native resident of Savannah, 
Georgia, and am and always have been true 
and loyal to the United States- This was 
well understood by its enemies during the 
war, and by its friends since their entrance 
into Savannah. 

When the United States army entered that 
city, tlie Confederate forces having pre- 
viously retired, I had (117) one hundred and 
seventeen bales cotton and some other pro- 
perty stored away upon ray own premises. 
General Sherman, commanding the army, 
and General Geary, commanding the city, 
were informed as to my conduct throughout 
the war and made my property an exception 
to the general rule of treatment. Under 
general orders from the Secretary of War, 



14 



however, the Treasury agent, Simoon Draper, 
Esq took possession of my cotton, 1 en- 
deavored to have it released by orders trom 
Washington, but failed, (see letters from 
Secretary Welles hereto annexed.). My cot- 
ton was therefore shipped to New 1 ork, and 
wrongfully disposed of as captured. 

No property of mine was treated by the 
military as captured so long as they had con- 
trol of it. General Sherman made a dis- 
tinction between the property of loyal men 
and rebels, so did all the other officers of his 
command. If the disposition of my pro- 
perty had been controlled by theai I leel 
confident that no property of mine_ would 
have been treated as captured, and, in sup- 
port of this opipiou, I annex hereto the copy 
of a letter from General Sherman to Mr. 
Draper, touching this, ray cotton. 1 also 
iinnex a copy of a letter from General Geary, 
v^hile he was commanding the city, and one 
from General Bcckwith of the same purport. 

Now, sir, I respectfullj'_ submit that the 
commanding officers of a victorious army are 
competent to decide what property recovered 
to their possession shall be treated as a cap- 
ture, and wh.at shall not^je so treated ; and 
further, that they did except my property 
from that which they regarded as captured. 
General Sherman and the other officers re- 
garded my unfaltering fidelity to my country 
and its institutions, throughout four years of 
insult, and threats, and persecutions and 
robberies practiced upon me by_ enemies, as 
• ntitling me to be treated as a friend. They 
treated me accordingly and had no intention 
of taking the remnant of my property from ' 
me and treating it as captured. 

I claim that this cotton has been im- 
properly treated as captured by Treasury 
Agent Draper, and tliat he had no right to 
take possession of it and dispose of it under 
the act of March 10, 18G3, and that the value 
thereof should be restored to me by the Sec- 
retary of the Treasury without further delay, 

1 desire to present my application to the 
Secretary of the Treasury for the proceeds of 
this cotton, and I desire to present with it 
the opinion as to whether upon proofs of the 
facts herein stated and the letters herewith 
submitted, my cotton can be fairly treated 
as captured or abandoned property. 

I know that the Secretary is disposed to do 
justice, and I believe that if you state your 
opinion to be that the status of the cotton 
was not such as to authorize Mr. Draper to 
take possession of it under the act of March, 
1863, the Secretary will promptly pay the 
proceeds to me. I, tlierefore, earnestly beg 
your consideration and reply at an early date, 
and remain, 

Very respectfully, your ob't servant, 

WYLLY WOODBRTDGE. 



Attoknky Gexkrai7s Offick, 
W.vsHisGTON, March 2, 18GT. 
WvLi.v WocDBKiDGE, Esq., 

Sir : I am directed by the Attorney Gen- 
eral to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of the 25th ult., and to say in reply that it is 
forbidden by the invariable rule of this office, 
and by statute, for him to give official opin- 
ions upon questions of law, excei)t when 
propounded by the President or the head of 
a Department. The papers are therefore 
herewith returned. 

] am. sir. very respectfully, 

lour obedient servant, 
M. F. PLEASANTS, 

Chief Clerk. 

The following special order will be read 
with interest, especially by those immedi- 
ately interested, which latter can obtain 
their lands by calling or sending a person 
duly authorized to receipt for the same to 
Lieut. J. Murray Hoag, Sul). Assistant Com- 
missioner of B. R. , F. and A. L., Savan- 
nah, Ga. : 

BURF.AU EEFCGtES, FRKEDMEN AND ABANDONED LAXDS, 

Oh'ioe Assistant CoMMitsioNEn. Stat:j of Georgia, 
Savannah, Ga., Joimary 19, lSti7. — Special Orders. No. 
0. — Tlie provisions oT sections 9 and 11, of the acts of 
Congress, entitled ''An Act to continue in force and to 
amend an act to establish a Bureau for the relief of 
Freedmen and Refugeei-, and for other purposes," hav- 
ing been complied with, the following property is here- 
by restored to tlie former owners, subject to the .ippro- 
val of Major Gen. Howard, Commissioner : 

Estate of Dr. Adams, Slddaway Island. 

Estate of W. R. .Symons, Skidaway Isl.and. 

Estate of \\m. Zeigler, Skidaway Island. 

Etitate of John Srreven, Brewton Hill. 

Estate of Lawton, Ogeechee river. 

Estate of W. C. Williams, Ogeechee river. 

Estate of Vim. Patterson, Ogeechee river. 

Geo. Screven, Mifflin, Chatham co. 

AVm. Habersbam, Grove Hill, Chatliam co. 

.Tohn R. Cheves, Grove Point, Chathiini co. 

Miss H. H. Elliott, Nev^ Hope, Chat-ham co. 

Henry Uubignon. Jekyl's Island, Chatham co. 

McAlpin, Burnsidc Island, Chatham co. 

M. C. King, Iland Island, Chatham co. 

.lacob Walburg, St. Catherine's Island, Liberty cr>. 

Kollock,Ossabaw Island, Bryan co. 

Thomas Spaulding, Sapelo Island, Mcintosh co. 

A. M. Kenan, Sapelo Island, Mcintosh co. 

Morel, Ossabaw Island, Bryon co. 

A. M. McDonald, Ossubaw Island, Bryan co. 

.1. H. Coupor, St. Simon's Island, Glynn co. 

H.B.Gorld, St. Simon's Island, Glynn co. 

T. B. King. St. Simon's Island, Glynn co. 

Jas. J'ostell, St. Simon's Island, Glvnn co. 

DAVIS TILLSON, 
Breve' .Vnjor Gen. end Ass' t Cominissiotter. 

Approved, O.O.HOWARD, 

Major General C-omm^r. 



W.Ui I)i:i'AKTMENT,BuREAU OK ReFUGEKS, 

Fkl:edmen AND Abandoxed Lands, 
Washington, Aprils, 1867. 

To his E.Kcellency, Andrew Joh.vson, Presi- 
dent of the United States : 



15 



Sir : I recomciend that the case of Mr. 
Wylly Woodbridge, a truly loviil man of 
Savannah, Ga. , be taken under special con- 
sideration. His cotton was his property, 
and should have been secured to him, if it 
could lawfully be secured to any owners un- 
der like circumstances in the United States. 

I believe, on careful investigation, his 
claims will constitute an exceptional case. 

Very resp' fully, vour obedient servant, 
0. 0. HOWARD, 
Major General. 

Mr. Woodbridge's loj'alty I have never 
beard questioned. If there is any claimant 
for the cotton captured at Savannah, Ga., 
entitled to investigation and return of pro- 
ceeds in case the claim is properly proven, 
bis is one. I concur with Gen. lloAvard in 
recommending an early investigation. 

IT. 8. GRANT, 

April lo, 1867. General. 

I cordially unite in recommending the 
case of Mr. Woodbridge to the special con- 
sideration of the President, and of the Treas- 
ury Department, believing that he is entitled 
to the fullest exercise of all the legal power 
which exists to relieve him and his property. 
W. 1'. FKSSENDEN. 

I concur with Mr. Fesscnden In commend- 
ing the case of Mr. Woodbridge to consid- 
eration. 

ROSCOE CONKLING. 

Z. CHANDLER. 

JAMES W. NYE. 

ExKCLTivF, Mansion, 
April 22, 18G7. 
Respectfully referred to the honorable, 
the Secretary of the Treasury, for a full and 
impartial investigation, with the hope that 
relief can be extended to the petitioner upon 
principles of equitj' and justice. 

ANDREW JOHNSON. 

TurASrilY DWARTME.VT, i 

April 3(», 1867. j 

Sir : I ?i."vc the honor to acknowledge the ; 
receipt, on the 27th instant, at the hands of 
Mr. Wylly Woodbridge, of Savannah, a let- 
ter from that gentleman to the Attorney Gen- 
eral relative to certain cotton claimed as his 
private property, captured at Savannah ; a 
reply thereto ; a letter from General How- 
ard on the same subject, addressed to your- 
self, with endorsements thereon by General 
Grant, Hon. W. P. Fessenden, Hon. Roscoe 
Conkhng, Hon. Z. Chandler, and Hon. Jas. 



W. Nye, all covered by your reference of the 
case to this Department, under date of 22d 
instant, for a full and impartial investigation, 
with the hope that relief can be extended to 
[ the petition npon principles of equity and 
I justice. 

I The claim of Mr. Woodbridge has repeat- 
I edly been called to my attention, and I have 
j as often and in the fullest and plainest man- 
1 ner possible explained to him and his friends 
my Inabilit}', under existing leglslatioi), to 
take any action in regard to it. 

The facts in relation to the case appear to 
be briefly and simply these : that the cotton 
claimed by Mr. Woodbridge was taken, with 
other cotton in Savannah, after the capture 
of that city, by the military authorities and 
by them transferred to an agent of the Treas- 
ury Department, by whom it was in turn 
shipped to New York, where it was .sold, 
and the proceeds arising therefrom have been 
paid into the Treasury in compliance with 
law._ According to the acts of Congress con- 
cerning captured and abandoned property, by 
the opinion of the Attorney General on the 
subject, dated July u, 1865, the Secretary of 
the Treasury is precluded from paying oyer 
to claimants the proceeds of any property so 
taken and disposed of, or from aflording any 
relief whatever in the premises. Nor°is it 
competent for him— the facts above stated 
being established— to inquire whether or not 
the property of which claim is made lias been 
rightfully captured, &c., A'c. His duty and 
power in regard to such property are limited 
to "Seeing that it is sold and Its proceeds paid 
into the Treasury, where they must await the 
action of the Court of Cla'ims when duly 
invoked. 

Under these circumstances I cannot take 
jiiiisdiction of the case under notice, and I 
see no remedy for Mr. Woodbridge except in 
the Court of Claims or before Congress. 

I have the honor, therefore, to return tlie 
papers alluded to for such action by you in 
regard to the case as you may consider law- 
ful and expedient, and to reniain, 

R(!>pect fully, your obedient servant, 
H. McCUELOCH. 
Secretary of the Trrnsnrj/. 
To rni; PiiKsmiiNT. 



Wasiiinctox CiTv. Mil// s. 1867. 
To T!u: Pkkside.vt : 

Sir: This petition Is respectfully to show 
that in answer to your endorsement on mv 
papers relative to the seizure of my 117 bales 
cotton at Savannah, and dated ""E.xecutiv^• 
^ransion, April 22, 18G7, respectfully refer- 
red to the honorable Secretary ol the Treas- 
ury for a full and impartial invcstig.ation. 



16 



with tlie hope that relief can be extended to 
the petitioner upon principles of" equity and 
justice,"' the honorable Secretarj^'s reply is 
as follows: "Under these circumstances I 
cannot take jurisdiction of the case under no- 
tice, and I see no remedy for Mr. Woodbridge 
except in the Court of Claims or before Con- 
gress. I have the honor to return the papers 
alluded to for such action by yon in regard 
to the case as you may consider lawful and 
expedient, and to remain, &c.'" 

Thus no point has been gained as to the 
peculiar merits of my individual claim ; the 
expectations of mv friends remaining un- 
realized, and the honorable Secretaiy indis- 
posed to take jurisdiction of the matter, and 
uncertain whether my remedy lies in Con- 
gress or the Court of claims. 

Your petitioner therefore relies most 
humbly upon you, as Commander-in-Chief, 
for relief and protection in his just rights : 
and in furtherance thereof he prays that you 
will submit his case to tlie honorable At- 
torney General ol the United States for his 
decision of the question at issue, by your ap- 
proval and endorsement of the inclosed let- 
ter, written by your petitioner, dated '25th 
February last, and addressed to that officer. 

I have the honor to be, Mr. President, 
Your obedient servant, 

WYLLY WOODBRIDGE. 

At the request of Mr. Woodbridge, this 
case is referred for consideration to the hon- 
orable the Attorney General. 

ANDREW JOHNSON.. 



Treasury Department, 
April 13, 1867. 

>Sir : 1 have the honor to acknowledge the 
)-t;ceipt of a resolution adopted in the Senate 
vn the 12th instant. In the following words : 

'■'■ Resolved, That the Secretary of the 
Treasury be directed to inform the Senate 
whether he, or any one by him authorized, 
lias employed an attorney or solicitor to rep- 
resent that Department before the Court of 
Claims in certain cases pending in said court; 
if yea, what counsel or solicitor has been 
thus employed, and in what cases, what fee 
or fees has been or will be paid him for said 
services, and out of what fund, and under 
what law or authority, he has been thus 
employed." 

In response thereto I have the honor to 
state that, after carefully considering the 
subject in all its aspects, it has seemed to me 
that in the trial of a large and important class 
of cases soon to be disposed of in the Court 
of Claims, the public interests imperatively 
demand that some assistance should be ren- 
dered to the solicitors representing the Gov- 
ernment therein ; and I have thought it my 



duty, as the head of an executive department 
directly affected by the result of such suits, 
to afford saeh aid in the premises as I prop- 
erly could. 

The eases to which I refer are those relat- 
ingto property captured by Union forces 
during the late rebellion, the proceeds of 
wliich — millions of dollars in amount — are 
now sought to be obtained through the Court 
of Claims. Many of the claims of this char- 
acter are -for large sums of money, and are 
being prosecuted with extraordinary vigor by 
an array of counsel combining talent, indus- 
try, and resources not often seen together, 
and who are generally incited to extra exer- 
tion by fees unusually large in amount, in- 
volving often a share of the amownts that in 
the event of success will be recovered by their 
clients. Considering the very large number 
of cases of this class, and the little time con- 
sequently allowed to the three solicitors of 
the court for the preparation of proper de- 
fences, it is unreasonable to expect them — 
able, vigilant, and faithful as they are ac- 
knowledged to be — to meet satisfactorily and 
successfully in all instances the influences 
and talent arrayed against them. 

In view of these facts, and considering the 
large sums of money involved, as well as the 
important and far-reaching principles likely 
to be established in tlie disposition of some 
of the cases first to be decided, I have entei'- 
tained the idea of employing associate coun- 
sel to aid the solicitors in preparing and ar- 
guing some of the cases which will ]>robably 
be determined at an early day. The general 
or implied authority for this jiroceeding is 
believed to exist in the first section of the act 
of Congress, approved February 2f), 1853. II" 
it is not therein contained, it is my opinion 
that the provisions of the acts in relation to 
captured and abandoned property, approved 
respectively March 12, 18G3, and July 2. 
1864, justify' the employment by this Depart- 
ment of counsel to protect the public inter- 
ests relative to such property, the expense 
thereof to be defrayed from the proceeds of 
the property received and collected under 
said acts. 

Acting under this belief, I have informally 
asked the co-operation in this respect of 
Hon. Edgar Cowan, a gentleman of admitted 
ability, learning, and resources as an advo- 
cate and jurist, and requested him to consult 
with the solicitors of the Court of Claims as 
to the propriety and extent of the assistance 
so proposed to be rendered, and, generally, 
as to the best course to be pursued in the 
premises for the protection of the public in- 
terests, with the view of finally adopting 
such plan of proceeding as might be recom- 
mended or thought most expedient after 
such consultation ; but as yet no definite 



17 



arrangement has been made with him, no 
money has been yuiid to him, nor to any 
Dther person on this account, none has been 
ncrreed or promi?od to be paid, and no rate 
ot' compensation tor ?uchKerviceas lie might 
render has been fixed npon or spoken of. 

In this contemplated proceedinp,' I have 
been actua.ied solely by a sense of duty, an<l 
by what I conceive to be sonnd public pol- 
icy ; and T conclnded to employ Mr. Cowan 
hecanse T knew ot" no man so able who isnn- 
connected with any proceedings aj^ainstthe 
Government, and who would be likely to bo 
so reasonable in liis char;2;es for professional 
service. 

If, in the course I had thus proposed to 
pursue In the premises, f have, in the opin- 
ion of the Senate, acted without authority 
of law, or injudiciously in any rp^pect, I 
.-hall be .clad to be so advised. 

With ireat respect, 

Voiir obedient servant. 

HUGH McCUJ.LuClI, 

Sen'efnr)/ nftJifi Treci.'iitrj/. 

lion. B. F. ■\Vadi::. 

I'rfisitlpul nf lln: Senoii-. 



ItESOLUTlON ADOPTED IN THE SEN- 
ATE OF THE UNITED STATES 0th 
DECEMBER, 1807. 

Jiesfolved, That the Secretary of the Treas- 
ury be directed to i'urnish the Senate the 
names and residences of all individuals to 
whom any property or Ics jiroceeds in the 
cusiody of the Department, or any of its 
;i,i;ents, as capture<i and abandoned property 
was released or given up. To state also in his 
answer the nature, kind, quality, and value 
ol' the property released or given up to such 
p.arties respectively, and the amount of 
money returned to each of such individuals. 
:ind whether, as preliminary thereto, such in- 
dividuals have been rerpiired to pay any lee 
or compensation of any kind to any attorney, 
fir other person, .and also to i"e[)ort to i.iie 
Senate the evidence upon which said prop- 
erty was released or proceeds paid over to 
such persons respectively, and under what 
law or authority such property was released 
or paid over. And also to state whether any 
of such property or its proceeds were re- 
leased or paid over to persons who had been 
engaged in rebellion against the U^nited 
States, or who had given ai<l and comfort to 
such rebellion, and whether before releasing 
such property or returning its proceeds the 
Department required the claimants to estab- 
lish their loyally by competent proof: and 
also a copy of any correspondence which 



has taken place between the Department and 
the Court of Claims, or any of its oflicers. 
in regard to judgments by said court, or the 
payment thereof in what are known as cotton 
ca-o^'. 



TREASURY JlEPORT RELATIVE TO 
CAPTURED AND ABANDONED 
PROPERTY IN THE SOUTH. 

The Secretary of the Treasury on the 20ih 
sent a communication to the Senate, in reply 
to a resolution of that body, in relation to 
the action of the Department with reference 
to captured and nhnndoned property. The 
Secretary says : 

T5al<a.sps of tiiisciillaneous property otljt-r than coltoii 
have b«en small iu anioiuii. lloiisfliold I'urDitiirc, lain- 
j ily relics, books, &c., fieueral!,v takeu hy military orili-rn 
for temporary use, and subsequently transl'erred lu 
i Treasury aK«nrs, were orderoil to be restored to the orit; 
I iual owners by tho Secretary's circular letter of S. p 
' tember 6. lS6o, wbenevei- the oouilitions named ihertiii 
were comiiliertwitU. In ono case, (th.itof Lewie Wasli- 
ins'oD.) the liouseliobl furniture liaving been told ui 
aULtioa bv mistake of the Treasury agent, the pnieeo.l- 
of sale amounting to Sl,102, were rentored in lieu ol 
file furniture. In compliance with the request of Muh- 
! luuimitiee of the joint committee on retrenchment, 
j aated April 4, tSfi'.'no release of property held as cap- 
ttired or abandoned have since been made, i.or claims 
iu connection therewith paid, except fov expenses in 
collecting the property. In the interval of a month b-- 
I tween the report of tlie Senate and the requeijt of ili' 
i Committee on lletreiichment, claims to the amount ol 
' 1^7,11:0 were allowed. One <ompromi.se, however, )ifi. 
been in.'.de in the caseofasuit pending against the Uni- 
ted States in tlie United States Circuit Court of Ne,r 
York, known as the Denuistoun cotton case. The agent 
of the L'liiteil .States was under a replevin bond iu tlii- 
case of S-tliO,00(i, which amount of money the ("ioveiii- 
ment deposited in the Farmers' Loan and Tntst Com- 
pany of New York. As this cotton was not ostensibly 
the property of the late rebel Kovoraiiient,norcaplureit 
nor abandoned, but was alleged to have been purchased 
leiially after the close of th;- rebellion, from a foreisru 
llrm, by Uennistoun, Wood <t Co.. of New Aork, ii was 
thou'^lit advisable by eminent counsel to pay the smu 
of $:.o,0i)0 for a final settlemoiit, and release the money 
on deposit. It was the opiniou of his predecessor in 
office that it was not otily the riglit, but thb duty, of Out 
Treasury Uepartment to examine the facts in relation 
to all property coming into the hands of its agents, and 
if if appeareiilhat thesame had been taken in violalion 
of law to restore it or its proceeds 10 its owners'. The 
rule as adopted by them was sufflriently broad to author- 
ize them to adjudicate the title of property taken h\ 
the army and navy and turned over to agents of the 
Treasury Department. But alter the capture of Savan- 
nah and of the large amounts of cotton therein, the M 
tornev Oeueral gave the Department his opinion that 
all questions arising with reference to the properly 
taken by the military authorities could be adiudicat.:<l 
only in tlie Court of Claims, which oinnion has bince 
governed the action^of this iJepartmeut as to the cases 
considered fairly withiu the provisions of the saute. 1 n 
relation, however, to cotton or other property taken 
possession of by Treasury agents without military ^s 
sist^nce or intervention, the Secretary has followed the 
practice of his predecessors, and has investigated the 
circumstances of the seizures, and if it hag appeared in 
aijv case that the properly was not. rightfully subject to 
seizure he )i<is restored tlie ^nme or its proce.'d9 t» its 
lawful owners. 



IS 



RBCAPITULATION. 

A' /■..;,( rfjwtof ihi Stcrctary of Treafur;/, .liinvn,;/ 'Jo, 
1>)6S, .S'fnaf'! Document So. £•_'. 

Number of Imles of voluntarily aliainioiicil cotlou re- 
leased 2.-'l»7 

Numlicr of biilos of erroucously seined cottoa re- 
leased C,306 

NuiiibcT of bales of cotton released on basis of 
imrchasiDg regulations ' 1,003 

Tolnl niiiiil" )■ of biilf's ri'lpflrcd 0,?'60 

\niounl allowf^d on claims IV. r cotton voluntarily aban- 
doned ail6,84:J 41 

Amount allowed oil claims for cotton crro- 

iipously seized, 4c l.iilS,4:.0 K\ 

.\monnt allowed on claims adjusted on lia- 
!-i-i of purchasing regulations oi;o.-l44 T7 

Ainonnt allowed on claims forRalvajiC '204,72^ '.<Z 

'fnral nmoiint fillnwed on i.ll .MfMniH... •_M:il),4"e (16 



with j'Oiir letter, and have the honor lo bo. 
with high respect, 

EDWARD JORDAN, 
SolicUor oi ihe Treosnry. 
Hon. S. P. CuASi:, 

Secrelart/ of the Trcasun/. 



I'rea.^ uiiY Depautm k\t. 
,Solk;itoii".s Office, J/ay 2G, 18G-1. 

•Sir : 1 have the honor to acknowledge the 
receipt of your letter of the loth instant, 
asking my opinion upon the question, 
''Whether, in cases where jiropertyis turned 
over 10 agents of this Department by military 
officers, under the act of (Jongress approved 
March 12, 1863, the Secretary of the Treas- 
ury has the power to inquire into the facts at- 
tending the action of the military authori- 
ties, and to so construe the act as to decide 
whether the property so turned over was ac- 
nially captured or abandoned [property,] 
;ind if satisfied it was not, to release it to 
claimants : or whether he must regard and 
Tre.at, as therein prescribed, all property so 
received from military authorities, leaving to 
ihe Court of Claims the question of capture," 
and to say '" tliat in my judgment '" the fact 
ihat such property ntay liave )jeen turnerl 
o\ er to the agent of this Department by mi!- 
iiary authorities does not in anj' manner af- 
fect the power or duty of the Department or 
its .agent to inquire wliether or trot the prop- 
erty is in truth such as is described liy tlie act, 
.ind that both the power and duty to make 
^uch inquiry, first in the agent, and next in 
the head of the Treasury Department, of 
which such agent is a subordinate otticer, 
seems to me to arise necessarily out of the 
nature of the dtities to be performed. The 
agent is not to take all property indiscrim- 
inately, but such only as is specified by law. 

Who is to determine whether any given 
parcel of property is such as he is req«ired 
10 take or not? 1 cannot doubt that it is first 
himself and afterward his superior, the Sec- 
retary of the Treasury. 

I return herewitli thr- papers trnn=mitird 



Tn EASURY Defautjiext, 
iicptemher C, i860. 

Sir ,- Believing that property of that cliar- 
acter does not fairly come within the mean- 
ing of the acts of Congress relating to cap- 
tured and abandoned property, my desire is 
that, if there are any articles of household 
furniture, books, or personal or family relics 
in your jjossession, or under your control, 
they be restored to all loyal owners, or those 
who have availed themselves of the benefits 
of ihe President's proclamation of amne.sly. 
! and who are not excepted from, or who have 
I obtained irom him, a special pardon, on the 
i ]i.ayment by them of all expenses incurred 
j ill their collection and care, and the cxecAt- 
\ lion of a proper bond of indcmniti/. 

CJntil otherwise directed, no sales of this 
class of property will be made ; and if any 
sucit should be in your hands, when you closf 
up the affairs of your oflice, you will turn it 
over, to'await further instructions from me. 
to a collector of customs at the most suit- 
able place or places in your ;igency. laklntr 
his official receipt therefor, 
b'ppppffully, 

'11. Mcculloch. 

Secretary of the l^ensivri/. 
0. IL Bi;rbridoe, Esq., 

Sxip'fj Special Agl. North' n Diris.. 

4th Agevcy^ Texas. 



.'Wtorxey Cexera]>'.s Offici;, 
April 24, 1866. 

Sir: 1 have the honor 10 acknowledge 
the receipt of a bundle of papers, containing 
the claim of Colonel .lohn S, VVilliams for 
three hundred and thirty-four bales of cotton, 
seized by the 'J'reasury .ngents, withan|lii- 
dorsemeiit thiit they are for tny considera- 
tion. 

As no legal question has been asked, I 
suppose it is intended that J. should express 
an opinion as to the legality and propriety of 
holdiitg the cotton seized by the Treasury 
agents. The facts, as disclosed in this bundle 
of papers, arc stib.stantially as follows : 

The three hundred and thirty-four liale." 
of cotton were the property of Josepii P. Bill- 
tips. When Billups was from home, having 
left authority with no one to sell and dis 
pose of this cotton, his father assumed au- 
thority to make .a contract with the so-called 
Cnnfederate Government for it. Under tlie 



19 



contract so made b}- llie Iktlier, the cotton 
was entered upon the books ol' tlie Confed- 
erate Covcrunient as the property of tliat 
GovernmeuL .losepli P. r>illup,<, as soon as 
informed of this pretended contract by hi.s 
lather, repudiated and denied ii. No agent 
of Uie Confederate Covernnient ever had 
possession of the cotton. It continued to 
remain in tlie possession and nnder the con- 
;rol of Joseph P. ]>ilhips, or liis agents. 

Alter tlie fall of the so-euHcd (."onfederate 
tlovernnient, and the .suvr(;ndcr of its armies, 
and after Joseph P. Billups had been par- 
tioned by the.President, the Treasury agents 
.-eized the cotton as the property of the Con- 
federate Government, because they found it 
entered upon the books of tliat goverinnent. 
Prior to this seizui'c by the Treasury, Billups 
had sold the cotton to Colonel .John S. Wil- 
iiams. 

This cotton uas not eaptured by the uiiii- 
uiry forces of the United States and turned 
over by them to tlie Treasury agents, nor was 
it. seized by the Treasury agents as, abandoned 
jiroperty; but the Treasury agents took it, 
lielieving it to be the property of the Con- 
federate Government. 

If it was in truth the properly oi'the Confed- 
erate Government, the Treasuiy .agents were 
right in seizing it; and prima fade, it was 
their property. Butif it was not the property 
of the Confederate Government, if it was not 
abandoned property, and if it hjid not been 
eaptured by the armies of the United States, 
the agents of the Treasury Dapartmeut 
would not do right in iiolding the cotton. 
The agents, though right in making the seiz- 
ure, cannot bo justified in holding on to the 
property, after it is made manifest by the 
proofs, as in this case, that the cotton did 
uot fall within any of the predicaments be- 
fore mentioned. 

As the cotton was not the property of the 
so-called Confederate Government, had, in 
fact, never become a part of the common 
fund upon which the rebellion rested, and 
was neither abandoned nor captured. 1 think 
if should be restored- 

With highest respect. I'cc. 

I have the honor to lemaiii. 

.(.VMES SPEED. 
AUoriiei/ <!(aeraL 

The PRKSIDKS r. 



f 11 i;.v.si;iiY Dbpartmkm . 
Febrnan/ 20, 180G. 
Gkn I'LB.MtN : It appears, after a careful 
consideration of all the papers submitted 
iM'X all the questions involved in the matter 
of your application for the release of and 
permission to ship ^certain "two thousand 
iind seventy-eight (2,078) bales of cotton 



bought by you, on foreign account, during 
the existence of the late rebellion," thar 
there is uot adduced sutiicient evidence tu 
i warrant the (jovernmentin holding the sainr 
1 as captured property, on account of its hav- 
ing been jnirehased for the purpose of tran,-- 
porting it through the blockade lately estab- 
lished by the authorities of the United States, 
and thereby violating the laws thereof and 
aiding and abetting the rebellion. I bavt>. 
therefore, decided to release the said cotton, 
to wit : 

(Jlii bales at Augusta. Georgia. 

•">82 bales at Macon, Georgia. 

■J'.)7 bales at Butler, Georgia, 
7"J bales at Americus. Georgia. 
;!I. bales at Albany, Georgia, 
lo bales at JNfontezuma, Georgi;i, 

t;j7 bales at Spartanburg, South Carolina, 
J 2 bales at Columbia, South Carolina, 
or wherever the same may be found. Ami 
I do hereby release the said cotton and n; 
store the custody thereof to you. with pei- 
mission to ship and dispose of the same a,- 
you may desire without hindrance or mole-s- 
tation on the part of this Government, or 
any of its agents oi' representatives, '"ex- 
cept that it is understood, and you willpleaso 
to take notice, that in releasing and surren- 
dering the custody of said cotton, no right 
or claim to iter the proceeds thereof which 
the Government may have, or at any tiim' 
chose to assert, under the provisions of the 
act of Congress, appi'oved August G, ISlJl. 
is in any wise waived or prejudiced." 

"Subject to this understanding, all agent- 
or officers of this department having any of 
the cotton named abo^■e in their possession 
or custody, or luider'tiieir control, arc hei"e- 
by authorized and directed to deliver tln^ 
same to you or 30ur duly empowered attor- 
ney:" Provided, you first pay, or cause to 
be paid, all costs, charges, or expenses paid 
or incurred ])y them in any way on account 
of said cotton, and execute and deliver, also, 
to any agent from whom any of it is received, 
a certilicate of probable cause of seizure, 
which will protect and hold harmless thi' 
Government and its otllcersand agents against 
any claim for loss or damage sustained on ac- 
countofits seizure, detention, or removal."' 

Any agent or officer taking any action under 
this letter will retain a certiiied copy as his 
authority therefor, and promptly report to 
the Department, in detail, all things clone by 
him in the premises. 

Please acknowledge in writing, the receipt 
hereof, signifying your acceptance or non- 
acceptance of the terms hennn stated. 
Respectfullv, 

" II. MgCULLOCII, 
Secretary of the Trea.'^nri/. 
Messrs. GiHBES &, Co., Charleston, aS'. C. 



20 



p. S. — The foregoing will upplyulso to — 
KJ bales at Augusta. Georgia, and 
tj'j bales at Union district, South Carolina, 
for wherever the same maybe found,) claim- 
ed as the private property of Messrs. (iibbes 

kCo. 

il. McCULLOCll. 
SimreUmj of the. TreaMiri/. 



''orrc'ipondat'X in relafi.on (>> i-otlon '•*/.>.■<■.< iu 
the Court of Claims. 
Tkeasury Det-artmext, Jail/ !. I hut. 
Si)- : J have learned informally thai a 
judgment has been rendered in favor of the 
idaintiff in a number of the causes famil- 
iarly designated as the " cotton cases ""in the 
Court of Claims, and I have seen in the 
newspapers the opinion i-endered therein by 
•the Chief Justice of the Court on the 2.3th 
ultimo, but I am without any knowledge as 
to the character of the evidence adduced on 
either side during the trial. 

I have to request, therefore, Lbaf you will 
furnish me with a copy of all the papers in 
each of the cases referred to; and, with_ a 
view to the full protection of the public in- 
terests in the premises, I have to request, 
also, that I may hereafter be furnished, be- 
t'ore judgment is rendered, with a copy of ail 
the papers in any case the subject-matter of 
which originated in this Department, 
'^'erv respectfully, 

H.'McCULLOCIJ. 
Secretary of the Treab-nrj/. 
Samuej. II. HuNTiNGTOx, Esq. 

Chief Clerk Court of Claims. 
Washington. I>. >'. 



GutliNSHOUOUGH, P.\.. Jul II H, lSt57. 

Dear Sir : I see by the newspapers that 
the Court of Claims have ruled some cases 
in favor of the claimants of captured cotton. 
1 do not know what particular cases are thus 
lavored, or on what grounds the court ])uts 
the decision, but 1 am more and more con- 
vinced that ''no one who submitted to the 
Confederate States, obeyed, their laws, and 
contributed to support their government, 
ought to recover under the statute," because 
it is impossible for such a one to show that 
he did not give aid and comfort to the rebel- 
lion. The question of "aid ynd comfort"' 
'■an only arise in the case of those who did 
not reside within the circumscribed limits of 
the enemy's country, for all within it, and 
submitting as citizens do generally, are them- 
selves enemies, and we make their property 
(whether right or wrong) the subject of cap- 
ture, no matter what might have been their 
'lisposition tow.nrd us. Some of those whose 



property was condemned in the prize cases 
were as loyal as any of the cotton claimants, 
and yet it was of no avail. 

We might as well in equity restore to u 
foreign enemy property captured in war. on 
his showing that he was of opinion that our 
cause was a just one and that his own govern - 
raent Avas in the wrong, as to restore thi.-r' 
cotton, inasmuch as we put the Confederate 
on the same footing as public enemies all 
through the contest, and to discriminate in 
iavor of the present claimants is not only 
ab.surd but unjust, if the statute will fairly 
bear any other construction. 1 was as mucli 
opposed to the policy of making private prop- 
erty on land subject of prize and capture in 
the war as any ,onc, but it was done, and 
there are thousands of those who suflered 
from it, who have a far higher equity de- 
manding indemnity than the plaintiffs in the 
cotton cases, not one of whom, so far as J 
know, ever did anything more than wish us 
well, while in all other respects they behaved 
just as the great mass of the souther)i peo- 
])le did. Their lo.yally to us could not be 
im])uted to them as a crime by the rebels, a.-^ 
they were careful not to manifest it by overt 
acts. Nor can we, for the same reason, look 
upon it as being very meritorious. 

Of course you will direct appeals to be 
taken to the Supreme Court. 
Vours trulv. 

h^DGAi;, CUW A.\. . 

iiun. High MoCullocii, 

Secrefai'i/ of the Treasury. 



llcAU'/r.s CiiiEi' E.v'uiXEEi: of Di;Ft:.\c us. 
Washixgtox, Apiil 2i. 186-5. 
Hon. \-\. M. Stanton, 

Secretary vj' War .- 

Sir: 1 write this in behalf of an old 
friend. Mr. Wylly Woodbridge, of Savannah, 
Georgia. 

.Mr. Woodbridge is one of the few south- 
ern men of property, social position, and 
political influence who has remained true- 
to the Union, through good and through 
evil report. 

lie has a Son who has been in the Conlc<l- 
crate army, who was wounded, and is now a 
jirisoner at Point, Lookout, and he desires 
j)ermission to visit him. 

If not inconsistent with the regulations of 
the Department, you will confer a favor on a 
gentleman whose loyalty has been above sus- 
picion, by granting him permission to %Tsit 
his son. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

H. S. ALEXANDER, 
Lieutenant Colonel A. D. C. 



21 



[i'rom 



• Hospital Life in the Army of the Poiomatf.'' by j [^^ their kindly attentions in a northern city, 
ATilliamUowcll Reed, pagoior..] j wlieu tlie rawpork and hard-tack were re- 

WOOODRIDGE, THE CIEORGIA SOI.- I ^'^''^^'^ ^-^ ^^'^ ""^-'^ delicious onuxurles." 
DJEE. 



■■Among these ^;ick and wuiiuded uieu was j 
one who had attracted my attention from his j 
superior intelligence, his culture and refine- 
ment, which were in niarked coutra.-5t to the 
rcpulsivcness ol'his outer garl). His clothing 
was torn and thread-bare — his pantaloons in 
ribbons about his I'eet, his hat without a brim, 
bis hair bleached and tangled, and from a 
i'ccent fall on the march he was encased in 
mud. Holding out his hand, which was 
rovered with a stained and ragged handker- 
'■hief, he addressed me and asked if I would 
amputate his fingers, nhicli were badly man- 
gled by a fragnifnt of a shell. 'i"he wound i 
liad not been dressed since his musket had 
buen shot from his hands nine days before, 
nor had tlic stoel splinters been extrat-ted. 
1 removed the clotted covering, aud found 
his hand in a most offensive condition, so 
utterly neglected had it been. The bones 
were uninjured, and with proper care the 
band might yet be saved. The woimd was 
cleansed and dressed ^vith fresh lint and 
bandages, and as 1 was about to pass to an- 
other case he said: ' [ am faint for want of 
food : can you get me some hard-tack V 
One of the guard at his camp cheerfully 1 
took from his haversack his ration of un- | 
cooked pork and cut a liberal slice, which ho ! 
gave me with some hard bread. J look it to 
my rebel soldier, who ate ii. with an eager 
appetite and a ihankfid smile, saying tliat if i 
I knew what he had lived ujion since he | 
started on the campaign, i would realize how 
near starvation he was. Said he, ' 1 had a 
pint of corn, and for nine days that was my 
only food.' But looking back to a luxuri- 
ous home, said he sadly. ' 1 have not been 
;ii ways thus reduced. My home is in Savan- 
nah. I joined a ])attalion of young men in 
1861, because T believed in tlie soiithern 
i-ausc. For three years I fought and suffered, 
a private soldier, until at last iny eyes were 
opened to the rapacity nf the leaders in 
llichmond. and i have been longing for the' 
old flag again. There are but few of us left 
now,' said he, • of those boj's who went out in 
'tjl, and when they get the news of our last 
battle there v.dll be mourning In Savannah, for 
they were her choicest sons. But I thank 
God the war is over." His father, a devoted 
and consistant Union man, now the Collector 
at Savannah, was at this tinie in ^\'ashing- 
ton. I wrote IhaC Hoiry was a prisoner, 
slightly v-'ounded. A few weeks after this 
time they were united after this separation 
of years, and I had afterward the satisfaction 
oftaking them both bv the hand and recelv- 



Savannah. Februuii/ T2. 1^08. 

/fvar Fai/ier: 1 &m to-day in receipt of 
your letter dateci 18th inst. We all are happ> 
to know that you are well. To-day I have 
made copies of three of your letters, written 
lo my brothers after the war, which will aid 
you in furthering your objects. I have also 
written to Virginia for the letters 1 left in 
chargt; of Miss Sehtbn. asking her to forward 
them by exjiress. '.fhesc letters, if they arc 
preserved, will be your strongest cards, a> 
they contain your feelings and actions during 
the war. 

We have not drawn up the >-tatcn\ents you 
requesteil, i'or we are afraid that they might 
do us all. as young men. injury, and perhaps 
might not do any good in Washington. Every 
one here knows your avowed Unionism dur- 
ing the war. All your letters tons in the 
array show that you were not wnly uuwillinL: 
to assist us, but that you did alljou could to 
prejudice us against the leaders and the cause, 
and in truth even went so far as to write me that 
1 would be acting honorably if 1 deserted and 
went on the side of the United States Govei'u - 
ment. 1 must say that J Avas hurt and mortihtd 
atsuch a request. Indeed, so nmcli was f afraid 
if your letters were seen, thatl would bear- 
rested on suspicion, that I dared not carry 
them on my person, and hid them away. 
They can now, 1 think, be brought to light, 
and L will ju-oduce them, merely because ju — 
lice has not been done you by those who I 
know you have in your ]iower, if you desin/ 
to use such power, i only wish that they had 
let you alone, as it would have been pleas- 
anter for iheni ii.s well as your sons. Do 
you think that I can ridicule others, when I 
was guilty of the same folly myself? Thi.-; 
would not be just, and my feelings will not 
allow me to do so. At the same time, I fe<-.l 
that, there is no nnui living who would have 
undergone the trials ami mortihcations th^ii 
von had to submit to for the lovf^ of a Govern- 
ment which has, as you now see, no respeci 
for patriotism. There is a saying that '" vir- 
tue has its rewards," but 1 mmst say that it 
has signally failed in your case, and by your 
determination to put so much confidence in 
the Government, you have lost your friends,, 
and your Government will not support you. 
Do give up the hope of getting justice and 
come home and be happy with us. You will 
receive .no thanks for your endeavors, and 
will bring nothing but unhappiness to j'our- 
self. 

Hoping that you will see that your son* 



22 



will protect you, irrespective oi political 
feelings, and that tliey all love yon, 
I reman verv aflectionatcl.y, vour .^on. 

HENRY H. WOODBRIDOE. 

\VvM,Y Woni)|!I!lur;i:. !•'.>(■).. \V;i-llin'_'tnii. 



.\i;\v \oi;iv, J'tbitiarj/ ]'■>. i.sO.s. 

Wvi.I.V WooniiRTDf.'K, Esf.1., 

At Willard's Bold, Washinr/tvu. IJ. C. 
Pear Sir — I .scud you the originals of your 
Icctersof the 24t]i and '^yili oi' November, 
1st, 7th and L'Jth of December, IStiU, Uh and 
^jlbt January. 'Jth and I'Jth tf Februaiy, iJSth. 
llHli and DUth April, and tlie 7th and'HJth of 
May, J 801, all liaving bonw, bearing on llie 
subject, and I hope ni:iy prtn'e serviceabh; 
in accomplishing your object. I liave Ijeen 
at. a loss to know what offici;il to go before 
lo verify them, but have concluded that a 
notary would be as propei' as any other: if 
not. and you will return them lo mc, I will 
execute the certificate before any other you 
ntay suggest. 1 know that throughout all 
tlie rebellion you were in sentiment and ac- 
lion a true and loyal citizen. Thanking you 
lor your good wishes, 

I fim. verv truly, vuur,-:. 

\V:\l. WiMTI.OCK. .Ik. 



tioH, and I am noAv the victim of circum- 
stances. 

General Sherman, by sj)ecial ieLler, pro- 
posed to save my pioperty, and to give me 
the management of it. I had a right to be 
ln;ppy, if .[ could be, amid the general de- 
struction. By the neglect or greed of Treas - 
ury agents my cotton was appropriated to the 
Government. That (joverument had not a> 
much right to it as any other Governmeiit 
or person, because being my own Govern- 
ment it had left mo without protection and 
aid. For three yoius J Inive been engaged 
in the most humiliating and useless struggle 
to obtain that which was surreptitiously taken 
from me, and to prove this, I submit the 
papers to show you how easy it has been 
for_ othei-s to obtain right-s denied to a 
En ion man. 

liy this action my enemies have been en 
couraged to pei-secute nic, and, as my last 
hope, J am forced to appeal to Congress. In 
that body lam a stranger, with no particu- 
lar support in my favor to induce thn mem 
bers to take up a private claim. I beg thai 
if you can do anything for me oflicially, yon 
will not sufter me to fail in my attempts tu 
maintain my position and standing among 
all respectable and true men. 1 am, 

V'eiy resp" tly and truly yours, 

VyLLY WOOD?, RIDGE. 



Wii.LAitn'.s Hoji:i,, 
WAsniNGToN", March 2, i80b. 

M^ JJeur iSir : You asked me some time 
ago to remind you of my desire to have an 
iinswer to my official letter, made so by Ihe 
President's kind endorsement. Fear of in- 
tiusion has prevented my doing so until now, 
when necessity compels me to call your at- 
tention to the same.' 

During tlie rebelliuji, at \\:\-\ mucli per 
sonal sacriiice in Savannah au'l Georgia.! 
remained the open ojjponent of the tyranny 
around mc, and a bright and shining light 
of the United States Government. I did so 
from a sense of duty. 

After the occupancy of Savannah, and the 
restoration of the United States authority, I 
was universally praised by the masses, and- 
acknowledged to be worthy of the sup- 
port of the Government in the protection of 
my person and property. _ No one attached 
blame to mc. iMy enemies had lied, and 
were absent from the city. Could I have 
then foreseen events! would have continued 
:i, quiet citizen, without claims to being a 
Union man. 1 had nothing to regret politi- 
cally in the past, and might liave done a pros- 
})erou3 business. Oilice was forced upon 
me contrary to my wishes, and I deemed it 
my duty to accept, but soon re.signed for 
my personal comfort; that gave dissati.sfac- 



fluN. li. 



April 



I Sb«. 



SAv.v.vs.\n, 
WvLl.V WijUiiBIUDGK. Esq. : 

Mr/ Dear Sir: In reply to ymir .sun'- in- 
terrogatory concerning the resolutions. I beg 
leave to note that! distinctly recollect the cir- 
cumstances connected with their publication. 
Tlie series of additional resolutions which 1 
published in the " Itepublican," of Decern 
ber 20th. and M-hicli were aftei-wards repub- 
ished with the full account of tlie first meci- 
ing lield at the Exchange, were handed to mc 
by you, with a special request for their publi- 
cation. You informed me at that time that 
you had intended to offer them at the meet - 
ing, but before you could introduce them 
others were presented and unanimously 
adopted. For this reason, as I understand 
you, you did not press the reading of your 
resolutions, but contentedyourself by liaving 
them inserted with the report of the whole 
proceedings. 

Hoping you are in the full enjoyment ot 
health, and that we shall soon have the pleas- 
ure of greeting you in your native city, 
1 remain, yours truly, 

JOHN E. HAYES, 

Edilor and Proprietor '■ nejmhUcan." 



RESOLUTIONS. 

Wc have been fuvnishcd by a citizen with 
iho following: liutriotic resolutions, which 
u't've intended to be introduced at the late 
citizens' mectinjr, bnt were not otTered be- 
cause he was satisfied with those reported by 
ilie committee and adopted by the meeting. 
We see in these resolutions and those passed 
i)y the recent meeting a briglit ray of hope tor 
the speedy return of those rational and lil)- 
eral ideas whicli ]H'rvaded the South ten years 
ago. 

The dawn of a new era, u gro,nd and glo- 
rious one, is fast approaching, and we may 
well begin to realize 1 he truth of Longfel- 
low's lines, 

•■ P.i;!iiml rvf ry il:irk olomt iliL-re ii n eilvtr liuiLig." 

Our national horizon is ablaze with th(! 
bright lights of victmry, and the faint-hearted 
have reason to be elated by the brilliant se- 
rit^s of successes that have ended the old 
year and will usher in th'^ new year, permit- 
ting the loyal of our land to enjoy a genuine 
•• merry Christmas." 

[n public meetinc, Savannah, December 
'27, 18G1 : 

Resolved, Ttiat rbe oitizf-ns of .Savannah consider this 
the proper occasion to readirut ih« followiiij; piioti- 

Tlie Government of the I'niteJ States was e>-'- 
labUslie<l by tlio people as a natioir Tlie Constitution 
denliires : "iVethe jjeoplsot" the United States, in orjler 
(■) I'orin a more ])erVcct ruion, establi-ii justioo, ensure 
rtomeslio tranquility, provide tor a coininon defence, pro- 
moio the neueral welfare and secure the Meanings of 
libmty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain an<i 
establish this Constitution for tlie Uuit(:-d States of Amer- 
ica." "Pliis Constitution and iho laws of the United 
Stales which shall bo made in piirsusance thereof, and 
all treaties made, or wliich shall be made under the au- 
thority of the United States, bball be the s^uprenie Iihk 
11/ the land, and the .judges in every State shall be bound 
thereby, auythins in the Constitution or laws of any 
Slate to the contrary notwith.-tanding. 

••The Senators and Repre-eutarivea before mentioned, 
and the members of thi- s'-viTal State Legrislatures, anil 
:iil executive and jtidicial ollicers. both of the United 
Slates and of the several States, shall be bound by nath 
01- ailirmatioH to support this Constitution, but no re- 
ligious tost shall ever be required as a qualilicatiou to ^ 
any office or public trust under the f'ldted Stales.' l 

The American Government may be com- i 
pared to the grand solar system of nature. 
The sun is the center, giving light, life and 
covernment to the revolving planets, keep- 
ing each one in its proper orbit : Avhen one 
jilanet goes out of its place it beconies in- 
volved in ruin. So the States must, in ol»e- 
dience to the common law, revohc ench in 
Ik accusiomcd orl)it, or ruin and tlesolation 
follow. 

The election of Abraliam Lincoln to the 
Presldencyof the United Statesin 18t;0' was 
legal, and ought to have been submitted to 
by all of the people of the Lniied'States. 

Hesolced. That the sccn.ssion of Georgia, in conse- 
(iuonce of the result of that election, ■was a hasty and 



unwise act, brought about by ap;itatins politicians, and 
longed upon many by a tin-cat of revolution. It wa9 ac- 
cepted by eminent statesmen as a necessity to keep 
))Kaco in tho State. It was, we licjieve, an outrage and 
a cheat upon a majority of the people of the State. ,1 1 
deprived us of our national birthright as American 
citizens; it has involved u-< in despotism ami general 
ruin; it was national suici-i, and the canse of nil oi r 
present evils and njisfortun>^.-. 

In pursuance of the above declaration of 
principles it follows that in our judgment 
the secession or withdrawal of the State 
from the Union is null and void; and liie 
present organization of the State govern- 
ment of (.leorgia is an usurpation ; that it is 
the duty of the State to reneiv its allegiance 
to the Government of the Ignited States, and 
claim the i>rotection guaranteed by the Con- 
stitution to maintain in each of the States 
•• a repuljlican form of government." 

That in order to facilitate the restoration 
of Georgia to the Union, and the blessings of 
the old tlag, we regard it as eminently proper 
and right that tin! people of this State should 
embrace the principles of the President's 
Proclamation of Amnesiy and his plan for the 
restoration of the Union ; and that for the 
purpose of fulfilling the obligations of tin- 
Constitution which guarantees to Georgia a 
republican form of government, the Presi- 
dent of the L-nited States should appoint some 
officer to supplant the present usurping Gov- 
ernor of Georgia, with authority to call a 
convention of the people of the State for the 
purpose of renewing their allegiance to the 
United States, and restoring to the State all 
its privileges in the Lnioii which have been 
lost or held in abeyance by the usurping 
power of the Confederate Government ami 
the present State Government of Georgia. 

Resolvrd, That we cannot refrain from expressinfr grati- 
tude to General Sherman aiid the oflicers and soldierj 
of his arit\y, fortlieir generous and magnanimous treat - 
nient of the citizens of savannah since their entry into 
the city; for the good order and general deportnieni 
of the troops, which, we believe, can )i'^ justly said !■■ 
compare favor.tbly with ihat of any ami v .d'such lar;:e 
numbers. 



API'KO 



•U lATION BY THE TR KA ? 
DEPARTMENT. 



uin- 



l-'.i'Tii .Si>ix;i.\K Ai:i;.N"t V of rni: 

TuKAStrKT Due.VKTMUNT. 

.■>.u ANX.vii, April 4. ]><>")■''. 

Hon. Ulou McCuluoch, 

Secretary/ of the Trcamirj/. 

Sir — I have forwarded this d.iy all tho 
cotton accounts for the month of -March, 
and that of the last lot shipped this day. 
completing the entire amount of cotton found 
in .Savannah, being thirty-eight thousand 
four hundred and four (08, 404) bales, to- 
gether with all the old bagging and rope 



24 



i-uttings, two Imiidred and eiglity-one{281) j 
hales, and fourteen (14) bales of wool. 

V'erv respectfully, your ob'rscrv't, 

ALBERT G. BROWNE. 
■^iipcrvisiiig Speciol Agnif nf Tiv/tsu.-ir I>e- 

prirf-nirnt. 

(^t'AKTEK.M ASTUR G CNUIiAb' .S OfFICK, 

Wasuingtox, D. C, J)cravhn- I'J, ]Sr,t;. 
Hon. EnwtN M. Stanton, 

Secretary of Wttr. 

Sir — 1 have the honor to acknowledge the 
receipt of your order of the 4th inst., to 
lepon upon the letter ol' Wyliy Wood- 
bridge, of .SavannoJi, Georgia, asking for 
proof that there was taken from hi.s premi- 
ses certain specified amounts of cotton, soon 
after the capture of Savannah by the b'nited 
States forces. On examination of the pa- 
pers of Col. H. 0. liansoni, Quartermaster, 
in the matter of cotton captured at Savan- 
nah, it is found that on the l?-th of March, 
iSG-j, Wylly W'oodbridge, Savannah, re- 
ported that he had in Ihe stores of the Sa- 
vannah Steam. Rice W\\\, at the foot of East 
Broad street, on wharf lots Nos. '.) and 10, 
lorty-three (43) bales of Sea island cotton, 
marked W. W., of which numbers la4:5 were 
square bales ; also, 74 bales of cotton, XJp- 
hind, all of whicli were square cotton, mark- 
o(l \V. W., Nop. ]a74. ' • 

Col. Ransom, in his registration ol' ('laini- 
(iuts of cotton captured at .Savannah, reports 
:i.- follows: March 1:1,1805, Wylly Wood- 
bridge marks W. W., No., quality, Sea Isl- 
ands : M. 14, S. I., ^-I. Bales 4:V. Marks 
W. W.,No. 74. quality Uplands, M. Inland 
N ; Uplands 74. Bales 74. 

In Col. Ransom's statement ol' cotton 
.shipped from Savannah he reports as follows: 
\V. Woodbrldge, March U), ISG-j, schooner 
Marcus Hunter, AB 74 bales Upland. Noth- 
ing is found as to the disposition of the 4'^> 
bnlos Suii Island cotton. 



Mr. Woodbridge having called in [)erson 
states that the Sea Island cotton claimed by 
iiim was shipped on the ship Bazaar, i have 
caused further search to be made, and tally 
books of her cargo to be examined and com- 
pared with the receipts of the 'rrensuiy 
Mgent, A. G. Browne, Esq. 

I find that .52 bales (see list herewiili on 
tnliy book No. 1*2) are noted nsnmrked W. AV. 
Six numbers following en .svUe on the tally 
books to bales AV- W., are not registered as 
marked at all ; and it cannot be determined 
Irom the record whether they are marked 
W. "\V. or no. These B bales are doubtful, but 
ibis hpok does" not specify whether the bales 



marked W. W. contain Sea Island cotton m- 
no. The receipt for the cargo of the shii. 
Bazaar, signed by Albert G. Browne, Super- 
vising Agent of the Treasury, embracos on 
the second page, which records 788 Ijule.^ 
Sea Island couon, the numbers noted on 
the listhcrewilji as Sea Island cotton, Ina 
records no initial marks. 

It Avill be observed that Mr. Woodbridire' > 
letter a^iid claim as registered, calls 1^)1^ 7-t 
bales Upland and 4;5 bales Sea Island. Tlir 
tally book of the Bazaar gives 52 bales mark 
ed Vv'. W. hut do not .specify qu'alitv. Tlie 
receipt of Agent, Browne for"the cargo of the 
Bazaar gives credit to Col. Ransom for the 
number noted, .and as Sea Island cotton, bin 
does not record the letters with which the\ 
were marked. 

The weights of the hales correspond with 
those of the same number on the tally books, 
aiid I have no doubt that the bales 'marked 
W- W. on the tally book were shipped on the 
Bazaar, and were Sea Island cotton. 

It remains to be proven, howevei', thai 
these bales of cotton were the prL^perty of 
^Iv. Woodbridge. The number of bales 
registered by the tally book of Sea Island, 
and marked W. \V., is nine (9) bales greater 
than he registered or claimed, and while Col- 
Ransom's statement of cotton shipped from 
Savannah, with names of claimants, gives 
Mr- Woodbridge credit for 74 balesABUj,- 
laiid shipped by the Marcus Hunter, in thi- 
book I find no credit for Sea Island cotton 
to Mr. Woodbridge. 

Under the head of ••no claimants'' sixly- 
three bales of Sea Island cotton are entered 
in this book as shipped by the Bazaar. Tbf- 
above is all the information 1 have been able 
to obtain on the subjcctof Mr. Woodbridge'.- 
letter, by a careful; examination of the pa- 
pers and books in this othce relating 1,0 ihe 
cotton captured at Savannah and turned 
over to the Treasury agent by Col. Hansom. 
A. Q. M. I am, very respectfully. 
Vonr obedient servant. 

M. C. MEIGS, 
Qiiinicrniaxl/r Crrncml lirf. ^fajor Oi-nn-nl 
r. S. A. 



iroin the Sew York Evening I'ubi. 



THE COTTON SAL 
Fill/ J J iff nf Pricci: 



The following 



full list of prices ob- 



tained ai the auction sale of .Savannah and 
Sea Island cotton made this afternoon i)y 
Simeon Draper, (briefly reported in our sec- 
ond edition.) A part, of the cotton was 
damaged. The sales weie made on the foun- 
dation of gold at 14 G : 



9 



O 



Savannah Cotton. 

-Middling fair, 71 bales at 44 ^.c. 

Strict Middling, :]S0 bales at' 40c. 

Strict low Middling, 574 bales at '<V,)l. 

Good Ordinary, 100 bales at :l2ilc : 'JjO 
bales at Z'Ac ; 399 bales at o'){c ; 100 bales 
at35ic. 

Ordinarj', 181 bales at oG^c. 

Pickings, 06 bales at l"2Jc. 

Pickings, 208 bales at ooc. 

Sample cotton, 180 bales at 36^c. 
Damaged Savannah Cotton. 

Middling fair, 17 bales at 40:5c. 

Strict Middling, 50 bales at 34c : 190 hales 
at 331 e. 

Strict low Middling, 391 bales at 30c. 

Strict good Ordinarv, lOl bales at 28;;c : 
o21 bales at 27ic. 

Ordinar}', 98 bales at 23.] c. 

Badly damaged, 2G1 bales at 20c. 

Rags and Pickings, 1.000 small bu'^s at 
23c. 

Sea Islands Picking. 300 sniall bags at 
22c. 

Sound Sea Maud Cotton. 

First quality, 142 bales at $1 l(i^ 

Second quality, 100 bales at 94c ; 119 liales 
at 92c. 

Third quality, 100 bales at G7« ; 8-J biiies 
at 35c. 

Saw ginned, 39 bales at 5c. 
Strained and seedy. 98 bales at 21c. 

Rebaded Sea Island cotton, 110 ])iilr.. at 
45J. 

Mixed packed, 50 bales at 27.U'. 

Damaged Sea Idan(l.'<. 

V'lVht quality, 430 bales at 72c. 

Second quality, 100 bales at 50.',e; 15i) bales 
at 55^c ; 108 bales at54^c : 147 bales at 54.1c. 

Third quality, 50 bales at 33.', c: 50 bales 
at 30]c ;_ 59 bales at Ulc; 400 bales at 32c. 

Saw ginned, 51 bales at 35c. 

Strained and secd_y, C2 bales at 31. ]c. 

Actual yaluc of cotton realized by the 
United States Goyenunent from actual sales, 
published in New York by Mr. Draj-ier. at 
auction for gold. 
74 bales Upland cotton, 35,752 

lbs., at 44.1c. - - - ' . sl5,909 04 
43 bales Sea Islands. 14.82:'. lb;., 

at SI 1 (;.'.. - - - - 17,208 80 



33,178 47 
Gold at 14(3, as <tateil in .<alcs, 15,2ol 97 



Proceeds. 



- $48,440 (51 



Had the cotton ijcen delivered to the owner 
for his own management at private sale — as 
••Browne,'' supervising agent of the 'treasury. 



advised the Department it ought to be, (see 
his letter,) and Mr. Draper promised it v/ould 
be, under General Shernnin"s letter, written 
for his protection, 1 would have realized 10 
or 25 per cent, more than the above proceeds. 
As the aflair now stands, I have wail ed three 
j'ears in trying to establish justice, and lost 
three years interest, which the riovernment 
has saved thereon. 
Three years' interest at 7.30c. 

per annum . . . . .slu.tjoS 48 



The anidunl J ask for is .• 



59,049 09 
48.294 30 



PJvriTIOX. 
To the Honorable the Senate and the House 

of Representatives of the United States of 

America : 

Your petitioner vesjiecli'ully represenis that 
he is a native of the city of Savannah, Ga., 
and always a resident thereof; that he is a 
loyal citizen of the United States, and has 
never given aid or comfort to their enemies ; 
that l)eforo the Avar began he opj^osed seces- 
sion ; that after the war commenced, and 
during its continuance, he maintained his 
loj-alty to the Government of the United 
States, never having adhered to the rebel 
government of Georgia or of the so-called 
Confederate States, or by word or deed as- 
sisting them. 

In confirnuition of his statement touching 
his loyalty ho respectfully refers to the testi- 
mony herein hied with the papers of the 
claim, and especially to the statements made 
by Lieutenant General W. T. Sherman, and 
Major General 0. U. Howard ; he also citcs^ 
the letter of the honorable Secretary of the 
Treasurj-, the request of the President of the 
United States, theapprovabof the honorable 
Senators Fessenden, Nye, Conkling, and 
also of General Grant. 

Y'our petitioner further represents that 
when the city of Savannah was ca])tured by 
the National army, under the coinmarid ol' 
Major (iencral Sherman, ho v/as the owner 
of forty-three (43) bales of Sea island cot- 
ton, weighing 14,823 pounds, and marked 
"W. W.," forty bales lieing round bales and 
three scpiare bales. Said cotton was of su- 
perior (puilify. and at the time of the appro- 
priation by the military authorities of the 
United States was stored in a warehouse oc- 
cupied )jy the claimant: also at the .same 
time and place, and by the same authority, 
seventy- four (74) bales of Upland cotton, ol' 
snjierior quality, weighing 35,752 ])ounds, 
and belonging to the chiimant. marked •' W. 
W.," and ail of the said cotton being in cfood 
order and ("luiditiou. 



26 



Tlie seizure, as aforesaid, was made on or 
about tlie loth March, 18G5, and the appro- 
priation of his cotton was not on account of 
the army and navy, as he believes, but for 
the Treasury Department, {vkh Albert G. 
Browne's statement, page — ; also, Secre- 
tary Fessenden" s letter of the 7th January, 
180"), addressed to Albert G. Browne.) 

Your petitioner declares that the said cot- 
ton was purchased by him, not for the pur- 
pose of sellino- on foreign account, nor for 
running the blockade, nor for sale to the so- 
called Confederate authorities. Init as invest- 
ment to await the downfall of the rebellion 
and the restoration of the lawful authority 
of the United States. 

Your petitioner respectfully calls the at- 
tention of the honorable, the legislative 
power of the Government to the fact that he 
never abandoned his said cotton : that never 
having violated any ol' the laws of Congress 
he is entitled to the full protection of law in 
respect of his rights of person and of prop- 
erty ; that under the act of Congress, dated 



March 12, ISCo, he is entitled to receive the 
net pi-oceeds of the sale of his cotton. 

The total net proceeds of which sale paid 
into the United States Treasury are. accord.- 
ing to his knowledge and belief. $48,294 30, 
forty-eight thousand two hundred and ninety- 
four 80-100 dollars. — I'ide stateiiient here- 
with submitted. 

The Honorable Secretary of the Treasury 
declines to settle the claim of your petitioner, 
on the ground of want of jurisdiction under 
the above cited act of Congress, as construed 
by the Attorney General in his opinion of 
July Gth. I860. — 'Mde papers herewith, and 
letter of the Secretary 'of the Treasury, dated 
April 30, 18G7, to the President ; also same to 
W. Woodl.)ridge, dated March 2, 18G6. 

In conclusion, your petitioner respectfully 
asks that, in consideration of the premises, 
your honorable body will, according to the 
"facts in the case, and upon principles of jus- 
tice and equity, grant him relief, and he will 
ever pray. 

WYLLY WOODBRIDGE. 



f 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 701 543 2 



